合情合理

• Pinyin: hé qíng hé lǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 情 = 忄(heart radical) + 青 (clear/young) — feeling/emotion; 理 = 王 (king/jade) + 里 (inside) — principle/reason

Meaning

In accordance with both sentiment and reason; perfectly reasonable and fair; logically sound and emotionally appropriate.

A four-character idiom expressing that something satisfies both rational and emotional criteria. Used to evaluate decisions, requests, proposals, or behavior that balances logical justification with human consideration. The opposite of cold, purely transactional reasoning or irrational emotionalism. Frequently used in mediation, legal contexts, and persuasive argument.

Examples

1. 他提出的调解方案合情合理，双方当事人经过协商后均表示接受。 The mediation plan he proposed was fair and reasonable, and both parties agreed to it after negotiations.
2. 员工要求延长产假的诉求合情合理，公司管理层正在认真研究应对措施。 Employees’ request for longer maternity leave is reasonable, and the company’s management is carefully studying how to respond.
3. 法官认为被告的解释合情合理，未构成欺诈意图，当庭予以采纳。 The judge found the defendant’s explanation reasonable and accepted it in court, concluding there was no intent to defraud.

Usage Guide

Context: mediation, legal, negotiation, ethics

Tone: balanced

Do Say

• 这个要求合情合理，我们没有任何理由拒绝。(This request is perfectly reasonable — we have no grounds whatsoever to refuse.)
• 处理纠纷时，裁决必须合情合理才能令各方心服口服。(When resolving disputes, rulings must be both emotionally and rationally sound to be convincing to all parties.)

Don't Say

• 合情合理 as a synonym for 合理 alone — 合情合理 specifically adds the emotional and human dimension; use 合理 when only logical conformity is relevant

Origin & History

合 (in accord with) + 情 (human feeling; sentiment) + 合 (in accord with) + 理 (reason; logic; principle) — parallel structure

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal