理解力 (lǐ jiě lì) — comprehension; faculty of understanding; understanding (ability to grasp meaning)

Definition

A compound noun for one's ability to grasp meaning — the 'power' or 'faculty' of understanding, not understanding itself. Often paired with 阅读 (reading) or 逻辑 (logical).

noun
comprehensionfaculty of understandingunderstanding (ability to grasp meaning)

Examples

  • 理解力，。
    Tā de lǐ jiě lì hěn qiáng, néng hěn kuài zhǎng wò xīn zhī shi.
    His comprehension is very strong; he can grasp new knowledge quickly.
  • 理解力。
    Yuè dú lǐ jiě lì duì xué xí wài yǔ hěn zhòng yào.
    Reading comprehension ability is very important for learning a foreign language.
  • 理解力。
    Luó ji xùn liàn néng tí shēng rén de lǐ jiě lì.
    Logic training can improve a person's faculty of understanding.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

理解understand
理lǐreason解jiěexplain
联合Side by side
力lìability

理解力 builds on '理解' (understand) with '力' (ability), giving the faculty of understanding.

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
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 →

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

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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