理

• 拼音: lǐ
• 汉字拆解: 理 = 王 (jade) + 里 (phonetic/village), originally the veins in jade, extended to principle/reason

含义

Reason; principle; to pay attention to; to manage. A versatile character with multiple meanings.

As noun: reason/principle (道理, 理由). As verb: to pay attention to (理睬, 不理), to manage (管理, 处理), to put in order (整理). Common expressions: 不理不睬 (ignore completely), 合情合理 (reasonable), 理所当然 (as it should be). Often used in 理 + someone = pay attention to someone.

例句

1. 我跟他打招呼，他居然不理我，不知道在想什么。
2. 做事要讲道理，不能只凭感觉。
3. 这件事你不用理他，让他自己反省反省。

用法指南

语境: logic, social interaction, management

语气: varied

正确说法

• 他怎么不理人呢？(Why isn't he paying attention to people?)
• 这件事的道理很简单。(The logic of this matter is simple.)

错误说法

• 把理和里混淆 (理 is reason/principle; 里 is inside — different characters with same pronunciation)

起源与历史

Originally meant the veins or grain in jade (玉 + 里). Extended to mean underlying patterns, logic, and reason.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal