里

• Pinyin: lǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 里 = 田 (field) + 土 (earth) — originally a village with fields, later meaning 'inside'

Meaning

Inside; in. A location word indicating the interior of something.

A fundamental location word used after nouns to indicate 'inside of.' Common patterns: 房间里 (in the room), 学校里 (in the school), 心里 (in the heart/mind). Often interchangeable with 里边/里面 in spoken Chinese.

Examples

1. 书在书包里。 The book is in the bag.
2. 房间里有一张桌子。 There is a desk in the room.
3. 学校里有很多学生。 There are many students in the school.

Usage Guide

Context: location, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 杯子里有水。(There is water in the cup.)
• 你口袋里有什么？(What's in your pocket?)

Don't Say

• 里房间有人。(里 comes after the noun, not before — say 房间里有人)

Origin & History

Originally meant 'village' or 'neighbourhood' (a unit of distance and community). The meaning of 'inside' developed from the concept of being within a village or enclosed area.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal