寺里 (sì lǐ) — inside the temple, within the temple

Definition

noun

inside the templewithin the temple

寺里。
Tā zài sì lǐ dǎ zuò.
He is meditating inside the temple.
寺里。
sì lǐ De dēng guāng hěn róu hé.
The lighting inside the temple is very soft.
寺里。
Hěn duō yóu kè zài sì lǐ pāi zhào.
Many tourists are taking photos inside the temple.

Characters in this word

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

𡳿

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 寺, the top comes from 之, a footprint pointing up, and the hand part 又 later changed shape; the original picture showed grasping or holding.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

衤里裡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衤Written in full as衣yīclothes

Sound part声符shēngfú

里

Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.