推理

• Pinyin: tuī lǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 推 = 扌 (hand) + 隹 (bird, phonetic); 理 = 王 (jade) + 里 (inside) — sorting jade, hence 'principle'

Meaning

To reason; to infer; logical reasoning. The process of drawing conclusions from premises through logic.

Used both as a verb (to reason) and attributively (推理小说 = detective fiction). Central to legal argumentation, philosophical discourse, and scientific method. In popular culture, strongly associated with detective stories and mystery-solving. Implies step-by-step logical deduction rather than intuition.

Examples

1. 侦探通过细致的推理锁定了真正的凶手。 The detective identified the true culprit through meticulous reasoning.
2. 他的推理过程严密，每一步都有充分依据。 His reasoning process was rigorous, with every step well-supported by evidence.
3. 推理小说培养了她缜密分析问题的思维习惯。 Detective fiction cultivated her habit of analysing problems with careful, systematic thinking.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, academic, literary, analytical

Tone: intellectual

Do Say

• 根据已有信息进行合理推理是解题的关键。(Drawing reasonable inferences from available information is the key to solving the problem.)
• 他喜欢看推理类的悬疑剧。(He enjoys watching mystery dramas that involve logical reasoning.)

Don't Say

• 把直觉判断称为'推理' (推理 implies step-by-step logic; gut feelings are 直觉, not 推理)

Origin & History

Compound of 推 (push, extend) + 理 (reason, principle). Together mean 'extending from principles,' i.e., logical deduction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal