原理 (yuán lǐ) — principle; theory | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

原理 is a technical/academic 'principle' — how a system works (科学原理, 基本原理). 原则 is more about rules or standards of conduct; 道理 is everyday reasoning or common sense.

noun

principletheory

Examples

原理。
Zhè ge yuán lǐ hěn jiǎn dān.
This principle is very simple.
原理。
Tā zhèng zài xué xí zì rán yuán lǐ.
He is learning the principles of nature.
原理。
Wǒ men yào xiān liǎo jiě jī běn yuán lǐ.
We need to first understand the basic principles.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

原yuánoriginal

理lǐprinciple

原 means original or basic and 理 means principle; together they denote a basic principle or theory.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

泉泉quánspring
厂厂chǎngcliff

原 combines 泉 (spring) and 厂 (cliff), picturing a spring bursting from a cliff-side, which gives the sense of origin or source.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

里

里lǐ理lǐ

Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6

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