Definition
理 (lǐ) refers to the intrinsic order, reason, or pattern in things. As a noun, it means 'reason, logic, principle' or 'texture/grain (e.g., in wood)'. As a verb, it means 'to manage, handle, put in order, or pay attention to'. It appears in many common compounds like 管理 ('to manage'), 整理 ('to tidy up'), 理由 ('reason'), and 理解 ('to understand').
noun
reasonlogictruthprincipletexturegrain (as in wood or stone)
verb
to manageto handleto put in orderto tidy up
Easily confused
- 埋máilook-aliketo bury
- 里lǐsound-alikeinside; interior; within
- 离lísound-aliketo leave; to part from
- 力lìsound-alikepower, force, strength
- 立lìsound-aliketo stand (formal, upright)
- 粒lìsound-alike(classifier) for small round things (pills, bullets, grains, pearls, etc.)
- 梨lísound-alikepear
Examples
- 。Tā méiyǒu dàolǐ.He has no reason / his words make no sense.
- 理。Qǐng nǐ lǐ yí xià zhuōzi.Please tidy up the desk.
- 理。Tā bú zài lǐ wǒ le.He no longer pays attention to me.
Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.