原理

• Pinyin: yuán lǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 原 = 厂 + 泉, original source; 理 = 王 (jade) + 里, principle/reason

Meaning

Principle; theory. The fundamental basis or underlying mechanism of something.

Refers to the basic laws or theories that explain how something works. Common in science, technology, and philosophy. Examples: 物理原理 (physical principles), 工作原理 (working principle), 基本原理 (basic principles). More theoretical than 原则 (which refers to moral or practical guidelines).

Examples

1. 老师给我们解释了这台机器的工作原理。 The teacher explained the working principle of this machine to us.
2. 学习任何学科都要先掌握基本原理。 Learning any subject requires first mastering the basic principles.
3. 这个实验验证了爱因斯坦的相对论原理。 This experiment verified Einstein's principles of relativity.

Usage Guide

Context: science, education, technology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你能解释一下这个原理吗？(Can you explain this principle?)
• 原理很简单，但应用起来很复杂。(The principle is simple, but applying it is complex.)

Don't Say

• 做人的原理 (For moral principles, use 原则 or 道理 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 原 (original, source) and 理 (reason, principle). The original reasoning behind something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal