料理 (liào lǐ) — (noun) cuisine; (verb) to handle, to manage, to take care of (including cooking)

Definition

A Japanese-origin word for 'cuisine' (noun) or 'to cook/manage' (verb). More formal than 做饭 or 烧; same register as 烹饪/烹调, with 料理 leaning toward Japanese-style cuisine.

noun
cuisine
verb
to handleto manageto take care of (including cooking)

Examples

  • 料理。
    Tā měi tiān dōu yào liào lǐ jiā wù.
    She has to handle housework every day.
  • 料理。
    Rì běn liào lǐ zài quán shì jiè dōu hěn shòu huān yíng.
    Japanese cuisine is very popular all over the world.
  • 料理。
    Tā xǐ huan zì jǐ liào lǐ jiǎn dān de cài.
    He likes to cook simple dishes himself.

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.

料liàomanage
理lǐhandle

料理 combines 料 (manage) and 理 (handle), both expressing arranging or caring for things, including food.

Characters in this word

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

料 combines 米 (rice) with 斗 (a dipper), showing rice being measured or gauged.

Open 料 →

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 7-9CookingFood (General)

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