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顺理成章 (shùn lǐ chéng zhāng) — (成语) logical and natural; only to be expected; (of writing) well-structured and coherent

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning 'logical and natural' — used when a result follows obviously from the situation. Stronger and more idiomatic than the plain adjective 通 ('coherent').

phrase
(成语) logical and naturalonly to be expected(of writing) well-structured and coherent

Examples

  • ，顺理成章。
    Zhǐ yào fāng fǎ zhèng què, chéng gōng zì rán shùn lǐ chéng zhāng.
    If the method is correct, success will follow naturally.
  • 顺理成章，。
    Tā zhè piān lùn wén xiě dé shùn lǐ chéng zhāng, lùn zhèng fēi cháng yǒu lì.
    His paper is written in a logical and well-structured way, and the arguments are very persuasive.
  • ，顺理成章。
    Tā jīng yàn fēng fù, dāng xuǎn zhǔ guǎn yě shì shùn lǐ chéng zhāng de shì.
    With her rich experience, it is only natural that she was selected as the manager.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

顺理follow reason
顺shùnfollow理lǐreason
动宾Verb + object
成章form pattern
成chéngform章zhāngpattern
动宾Verb + object

顺理 means following the reason, and 成章 means forming a clear pattern; the phrase describes something naturally logical and well-structured.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 順; 顺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān順shùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 順 pairs 川 (river), which gives the sound, with 頁 (head); the picture is a head in a river, following the current. The simplified 顺 is a shorthand.

Open 顺 →

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 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

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

章 shows a chisel piercing a piece of jade in the middle. It originally meant treating jade.

Open 章 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Cause, Effect & LogicIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.