有理有据 (yǒu lǐ yǒu jù) — well-grounded, with both reason and evidence

Definition

An idiom praising an argument or analysis as both logical and backed by evidence. Use it when a statement is thoroughly reasoned, not just opinionated.

idiom
well-groundedwith both reason and evidence

Examples

  • 有理有据，。
    Tā de fēn xī yǒu lǐ yǒu jù, ràng rén bù dé bú xìn fú.
    His analysis is well-grounded and makes people convinced.
  • 有理有据。
    Xiě lùn wén shí yí dìng yào zuò dào yǒu lǐ yǒu jù.
    When writing a thesis, you must make sure it's well-grounded.
  • 有理有据，。
    Tā shuō huà yǒu lǐ yǒu jù, dà jiā dōu yuàn yì tīng tā de jiàn yì.
    She speaks with reason and evidence, so everyone is willing to listen to her advice.

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.

有理have reason
有yǒuhave理lǐreason
动宾Verb + object
有据have evidence
有yǒuhave据jùevidence
动宾Verb + object

有 means having, 理 is reason, and 据 is evidence; having both makes a statement well-grounded.

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.

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 →

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
居
居jū据jù
Same sound today

据 uses 手 (hand) as one part and 居 to give the sound.

Open 据 →

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