TongTong
Sign in

按理 (àn lǐ) — normally; in the ordinary course of events; according to reason, as logic would dictate

Definition

按理 means 'logically / normally' — it frames what *should* be true by reason, often setting up a contrast with reality. Unlike 通常 (general habit) or 照例 (customary routine), 按理由'ought to'的意味，不一定描述常态。

adverb
normallyin the ordinary course of eventsaccording to reasonas logic would dictate

Examples

  • 按理，。
    àn lǐ, Zhè ge xiàng mù xià ge yuè jiù néng wán chéng.
    Normally, this project can be completed next month.
  • 按理。
    àn lǐ Tā bú yīng gāi fàn zhè zhǒng cuò wù.
    Logically, he shouldn't make this kind of mistake.
  • ，按理。
    Jì rán xué le fǎ lǜ, àn lǐ nǐ gāi liǎo jiě zhè xiē tiáo kuǎn.
    Since you studied law, you should normally be familiar with these clauses.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

按ànaccording to
理lǐreason

按 means according to and 理 means reason, together meaning according to normal reason.

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.