通情达理 (tōng qíng dá lǐ) — reasonable, sensible, understanding (of a perso… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

An idiom meaning 'reasonable and understanding' — describes a person who considers others' feelings and acts sensibly. Usually used to praise someone's character.

idiom

reasonablesensibleunderstanding (of a person)

Examples

通情达理，。
Tā shì yí gè tōng qíng dá lǐ de rén, dà jiā dōu xǐ huan tā.
She is a reasonable person; everyone likes her.
通情达理，。
Tā chǔ lǐ wèn tí hěn tōng qíng dá lǐ, cóng bú gù zhí jǐ jiàn.
He handles problems very sensibly and never stubbornly insists on his own views.
通情达理，。
Fù mǔ yīng gāi tōng qíng dá lǐ, duō tīng tīng hái zi de xiǎng fǎ.
Parents should be understanding and listen more to their children's thoughts.

Origin

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.

辶甬通

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

甬

甬yǒng通tōng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

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

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

青qīng情qíng

Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

辶大达

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

大

大dà达dá

Same sound today

This form 达 pairs 辶 (written in full as 辵) with 大 as a sound component.

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.

Appears in

Idioms & Set Phrases Personality & Traits

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