About
The character 理, in its traditional form, combines the semantic component 玉 (jade) with the phonetic component 里 (village, interior). Its earliest meanings were concrete, referring to the natural veins and patterns within a piece of jade, which a craftsman would follow to work the precious stone effectively. From this specific notion of inherent texture, the meaning broadened to denote the inner pattern or order inherent in any object or material, the way things are naturally structured. This conceptual foundation allowed the term to ascend into the philosophical realm, where it came to represent the underlying principle, reason, or cosmic order governing the universe and human affairs, a concept central to Confucian and especially Neo-Confucian thought. Over time, these abstract senses generated more applied meanings, such as the act of putting things in order, managing affairs, or the rationale behind an argument, completing its journey from a description of physical grain to a term encompassing both natural law and logical reasoning.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他讲得很有道理。
我不理解他的做法。
妈妈正在整理房间。
这个理想非常伟大。
修理汽车需要专业知识。
管理一家公司并不容易。
治理国家需要智慧和远见。
从物理学的角度来解释这个现象。