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道理 (dào lǐ) — reason, argument (the logic or principle that supports a claim); sense, the way things should be (as in 讲道理)

Definition

道理 covers both the logic behind a claim and 'the way things should be' (讲道理). For 'reason/grounds' in justifying an action, 理由 is more common.

noun
reasonargument (the logic or principle that supports a claim)sensethe way things should be (as in 讲道理)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 道理。
    Nǐ jiǎng de hěn yǒu dào lǐ.
    What you said makes a lot of sense.
  • 道理，。
    Zhè ge dào lǐ hěn jiǎn dān, nǐ yí dìng néng míng bai.
    This principle is very simple; you'll definitely understand it.
  • 道理。
    Zuò shì bù néng bù jiǎng dào lǐ.
    One cannot be unreasonable in doing things.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

道dàoway
理lǐreason

道 (way) and 理 (reason) together name the principle or logic behind something.

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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

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 →
Appears in
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