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理 (lǐ) — (noun) reason; logic; truth; principle; (noun) texture; grain (as in wood or stone); (verb) to manage; to handle; to put in order; to tidy up

Definition

理 (lǐ) is a rare single-morpheme word meaning both 'reason/logic' and 'tidy up/manage.' In the 'logic' sense, 道理 is the everyday phrase; 理 alone is used in set expressions. As a verb, 收拾 is the more colloquial 'tidy up.'

noun
reasonlogictruthprincipletexturegrain (as in wood or stone)
verb
to manageto handleto put in orderto tidy up
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā méi yǒu dào lǐ.
    He has no reason / his words make no sense.
  • 理。
    Qǐng nǐ lǐ yí xià zhuō zi.
    Please tidy up the desk.
  • 理。
    Tā bú zài lǐ wǒ le.
    He no longer pays attention to me.
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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