真理 (zhēn lǐ) — truth | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

An abstract, principled 'truth' — objective reality or a universal principle, as in scientific or philosophical contexts. Unlike 真相 ('the facts of a case') or 实话 ('honest words'), it isn't about a specific situation.

noun

truth

Measure word · 个

Examples

真理。
Tā yì shēng dōu zài zhuī qiú zhēn lǐ.
He spent his whole life pursuing truth.
真理。
Kē xué tàn suǒ de mù dì jiù shì xún zhǎo zhēn lǐ.
The purpose of scientific exploration is to seek truth.
真理。
zhēn lǐ Xū yào jīng guò shí jiàn lái jiǎn yàn.
Truth needs to be tested through practice.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

理lǐprinciple

真 and 理 combine as a true principle, giving the sense of truth.

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

貝貝bèicowrie; shell

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂈

𠂈𠂈真zhēn

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

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Abstract Concepts

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