理

lǐ

王 + 里

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

lǐ (noun) reason; logic

lǐ (noun) principle; natural law

lǐ (verb) to manage; to handle; to deal with

lǐ (verb) to put in order; to organize

lǐ (noun) texture; grain (of wood)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 𤣩 represents the meaning and 里 represents the sound.

Semantic: 王 Phonetic: 里

About

理 is a phonosemantic compound: the jade radical 𤣩 (written 王 on the left) gives the meaning, and 里 provides the sound. The jade component points to precious stone, and the character originally denoted the natural veins or textures inside uncarved jade. The practice of following these patterns to cut and polish the stone led to extended senses of managing, organizing, and putting things in proper order. From there it came to represent abstract reasoning, rationality, underlying principles, natural sciences, and the inherent order governing human interactions and natural phenomena.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他讲得很有道理。

Tā jiǎng dé hěn yǒu dàolǐ.

What he said is very reasonable.

我不理解他的做法。

Wǒ bù lǐjiě tā de zuòfǎ.

I don't understand his approach.

妈妈正在整理房间。

Māmā zhèngzài zhěnglǐ fángjiān.

Mom is tidying up the room.

这个理想非常伟大。

Zhège lǐxiǎng fēicháng wěidà.

This ideal is very great.

修理汽车需要专业知识。

Xiūlǐ qìchē xūyào zhuānyè zhīshì.

Repairing cars requires professional knowledge.

管理一家公司并不容易。

Guǎnlǐ yì jiā gōngsī bìng bù róngyì.

Managing a company is not easy.

治理国家需要智慧和远见。

Zhìlǐ guójiā xūyào zhìhuì hé yuǎnjiàn.

Governing a country requires wisdom and foresight.

从物理学的角度来解释这个现象。

Cóng wùlǐ xué de jiǎodù lái jiěshì zhège xiànxiàng.

Explain this phenomenon from the perspective of physics.

Related Characters

Component: 王

Component: 里

理