About
The character "理" has its etymological origin in the concept of working with jade, with the left radical "玉" (jade) indicating its material basis and the right component "里" (village, interior) originally providing phonetic suggestion but later contributing a sense of inherent internal quality. Its early meaning was the act of carving jade by following its natural grain or veins, which established a core concept of inherent pattern or order within a substance. From this concrete foundation, the character's semantic field broadened to encompass the abstract principles governing natural phenomena and human affairs, becoming a central term in classical Chinese philosophy denoting the fundamental order, rationale, or logic of things. The character retained this traditional form and was not structurally altered by simplification, allowing its conceptual range to consistently include meanings from the concrete management or handling of affairs to the most abstract philosophical principle.
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。