有条有理 (yǒu tiáo yǒu lǐ) — well-organized; methodical; orderly

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'orderly and methodical' — emphasizes clear, logical arrangement in speech, writing, or work, with no confusion or wasted steps.

idiom

well-organizedmethodicalorderly

Examples

有条有理，。
Tā shuō huà zǒng shì yǒu tiáo yǒu lǐ, ràng duì fāng yì tīng jiù míng bai.
He always speaks in a well-organized way, making the other person understand right away.
有条有理，。
Zhè piān wén zhāng xiě dé yǒu tiáo yǒu lǐ, měi gè lùn diǎn dōu qīng qīng chǔ chǔ.
This essay is written methodically, with every argument clear and distinct.
有条有理，。
Tā de rì chéng ān pái yǒu tiáo yǒu lǐ, cóng bú làng fèi shí jiān.
Her schedule is arranged very systematically; she never wastes time.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

有条having order

有yǒuhave条tiáoorder

动宾Verb + object

有理having reason

有yǒuhave理lǐreason

动宾Verb + object

有条 “having order” and 有理 “having reason” together mean systematic and orderly.

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

肉肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

又

又yòu有yǒu

Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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 條; 条 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mù

Sound part声符shēngfú

攸

攸yōu條tiáo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 條 pairs 木, a small branch or stick, with 攸, which shows a person warned by a hand holding a stick, as a sound part; 条 is a later shortened shape.

Open 条 →

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

肉肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

又

又yòu有yǒu

Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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 →

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