生理 shēnglǐ physiology
How to remember 生理: 生 life + 理 reason = physiology.
Characters
How it is used
- Physiology / bodily functioning - 生理需求 (shēnglǐ xūqiú) physiological needs; 生理反应 (a physical reaction).
- Consistently paired against 心理 (xīnlǐ, psychology): the 生理/心理 split = physical vs mental.
- Technical-neutral; also in 生理期 (shēnglǐqī), a polite term for menstruation.