Definition
无理 (wú lǐ) means 'unreasonable, irrational' — it describes requests, arguments, or actions that lack logical justification. Among siblings, 无赖 adds a sense of shamelessness (someone behaving unreasonably on purpose), while 不像话 is stronger, meaning 'outrageous' (shocking behavior), and 离谱儿 emphasizes being ridiculously extreme (e.g., outrageous prices).
verb
unreasonableirrational
Easily confused
- 物理wù lǐsound-alikephysics
- 无力wú lìsound-aliketo be powerless; to lack the strength or ability (to do something)
- 武力wǔ lìsound-alikemilitary force, armed might
- 物力wù lìsound-alikematerial resources, physical resources (as distinct from human and financial resources)
Examples
- 无理。Zhège yāoqiú hěn wú lǐ.This request is very unreasonable.
- 无理，。Tā shuōhuà zǒng shì nàme wú lǐ, méi rén xǐhuan gēn tā zhēnglùn.He always speaks so unreasonably; nobody likes to argue with him.
- 无理，。Nǐ zhèyàng zuò tài wú lǐ le, lián nǐ de péngyou dōu kàn bú xiàqù le.What you did is so unreasonable that even your friends can't stand it.
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