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按理说 (àn lǐ shuō) — according to reason; normally; in principle

Definition

A clause-initial adverbial meaning 'in principle / by rights', setting up an expectation that reality may contradict. Pairs with 可/但是 to contrast what should be with what actually is.

verb
according to reasonnormallyin principle

Examples

  • 按理说，，。
    àn lǐ shuō, Tā yīng gāi zǎo jiù dào le, dàn xiàn zài hái méi lái.
    Normally speaking, he should have arrived long ago, but he still hasn't come.
  • 按理说，，。
    àn lǐ shuō, Zhè zhǒng yào duì gǎn mào hěn yǒu xiào guǒ, kě shì chī le yǐ hòu méi shén me yòng.
    In theory, this medicine is very effective for colds, but after taking it there's not much effect.
  • 按理说，。
    àn lǐ shuō, Wǒ men bú yīng gāi zài zhè lǐ tíng chē.
    By rights, we shouldn't park here.

Origin

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān按àn
Same sound today

按 has 扌, the hand radical, and 安. The hand part points to an action done with the hand, while 安 supplies the sound and the idea of being at ease, linked to pressing down.

Open 按 →

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.

Open 理 →

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 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

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