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表里 (biǎo lǐ) — exterior and interior; outside and inside; outward show and inner thoughts; surface vs. true nature

Definition

表里 literally means 'outside and inside' but most often refers to the gap between someone's outward appearance and their true nature. Pairs with 如一 (consistency) or 不一 (inconsistency) when judging if appearance matches reality.

noun
exterior and interioroutside and insideoutward show and inner thoughtssurface vs. true nature

Examples

  • 表里，。
    Wǒ men kàn wèn tí bù néng zhī kàn biǎo lǐ, hái yào shēn rù shí zhì.
    When we look at problems, we can't just focus on the surface; we also need to get to the essence.
  • 表里，。
    Yí gè rén de biǎo lǐ shì fǒu yí zhì, shí jiān cháng le jiù néng kàn chū lái.
    Whether a person's outer demeanor matches their inner self becomes clear over time.
  • 表里，。
    Zhōng yī zhù zhòng biǎo lǐ tóng zhì, biāo běn jiān gù.
    Chinese medicine emphasizes treating both the exterior and interior, addressing symptoms and root causes together.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

表biǎooutside
里lǐinside

表 'outside' and 里 'inside' stand in parallel, covering exterior and interior.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →

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 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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