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

Definition

Examples

• 按理说，他应该早就到了，但现在还没来。
  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，这种药对感冒很有效果，可是吃了以后没什么用。
  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，我们不应该在这里停车。
  àn lǐ shuō, Wǒ men bú yīng gāi zài zhè lǐ tíng chē.
  By rights, we shouldn't park here.