Definition
表里 (biǎo lǐ) literally means 'surface and interior,' but it's used both concretely (the outside and inside of an object) and figuratively (one's outward behavior vs. inner thoughts). In traditional Chinese medicine, it also refers to treating disorders that affect both the exterior and interior of the body at once — a holistic therapy approach. The word often appears in set phrases like 表里如一 (consistent inside and out).
n.
exterior and interioroutside and insideoutward show and inner thoughtssurface vs. true nature
Examples
- 表里，。Wǒmen kàn wèntí bù néng zhǐ kàn biǎo lǐ, hái yào shēnrù shízhì.When we look at problems, we can't just focus on the surface; we also need to get to the essence.
- 表里，。Yí ge rén de biǎo lǐ shìfǒu yízhì, shíjiān cháng le jiù néng kàn chūlái.Whether a person's outer demeanor matches their inner self becomes clear over time.
- 表里，。Zhōngyī zhùzhòng biǎo lǐ tóng zhì, biāo běn jiān gù.Chinese medicine emphasizes treating both the exterior and interior, addressing symptoms and root causes together.
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