理 lǐ reason
reason; to manage; to tidy up; to pay attention to
How to remember 理: 𤣩 king + 里 in = reason. The boy knocks over his chess king, sits in silence for a minute, then asks his coach for the reason he lost.
Component breakdown
理 = 𤣩 king + 里 in
- 𤣩 king
- 里 in
- 日 sun
- 土 earth
The boy knocks over his chess king, sits in silence for a minute, then asks his coach for the reason he lost.
How it is used
- Reason/logic, and 'to manage / put in order' - 道理 (dàolǐ) reasoning, 管理 (guǎnlǐ) manage, 整理 (zhěnglǐ) tidy up.
- 理 also means 'pay heed to (someone)': 别理他 (bié lǐ tā) ignore him, don't respond to him.
- Distinguish 理解 (lǐjiě, understand) from 了解 (liǎojiě, be acquainted with). 理发 (lǐfà) = get a haircut.
Words with 理
- 经理jīnglǐmanagerHSK 3
- 理解lǐjiěcomprehendHSK 4
- 管理guǎnlǐsuperviseHSK 4
- 整理zhěnglǐput in orderHSK 4
- 理想lǐxiǎngidealHSK 4
- 修理xiūlǐto repairHSK 4
- 理发lǐfàa barberHSK 4
- 办理bànlǐto handleHSK 4
- 合理hélǐrationalHSK 5
- 地理dìlǐgeographyHSK 5
- 处理chǔlǐto handleHSK 5
- 心理xīnlǐpsychologyHSK 5
- 物理wùlǐphysicsHSK 5
- 理由lǐyóureasonHSK 5
- 理论lǐlùntheoryHSK 5
- 道理dàolǐreasonHSK 5
- 代理dàilǐto act on behalf ofHSK 6
- 助理zhùlǐassistantHSK 6
- 原理yuánlǐprincipleHSK 6
- 总理zǒnglǐpremierHSK 6
- 治理zhìlǐto governHSK 6
- 清理qīnglǐto clear upHSK 6
- 理念lǐniànideaHSK 6
- 理性lǐxìngreasonHSK 6
- 理科lǐkēthe sciencesHSK 6
- 理财lǐcáito manage wealthHSK 6
- 受理shòulǐto accept to hear a caseHSK 7
- 常理chánglǐcommon senseHSK 7
- 心安理得xīn’ān-lǐdéto have a clear conscienceHSK 7
- 情理qínglǐreasonHSK 7
- 护理hùlǐto nurseHSK 7
- 按理ànlǐaccording to reasonHSK 7
- 推理tuīlǐreasoningHSK 7
- 料理liàolǐto arrangeHSK 7
- 无理wúlǐirrationalHSK 7
- 条理tiáolǐarrangementHSK 7
- 理事lǐshìmember of councilHSK 7
- 理会lǐhuìto understandHSK 7
- 理所当然lǐsuǒdāngránas it should be by rights (idiom)HSK 7
- 生理shēnglǐphysiologyHSK 7
Example sentences
- 那是我的理想。 Nàshì wǒde lǐxiǎng.That is my ideal.
- 我不理解你说的话。 Wǒ bù lǐjiě nǐ shuō de huà.I don't understand what you said.
- 他是公司的总经理。 Tā shì gōngsī de zǒngjīnglǐ.He is the general manager at the company.
- 我管理这个部门。 Wǒ guǎnlǐ zhège bùmén.I'm in charge of this department.