理 Stroke Order — How to Write 理
理 is written in 11 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 王, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
理 Radical and Character Components
理 is a phono-semantic compound: 王 (king) carries the meaning, while 里 indicates the sound.
Radical: 王 + 7 more strokes
理 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- lǐ
Meanings of 理 in Chinese
1
lǐ理
The inherent order, logic, or principle of objective things; texture, pattern.
我们需要理解事物发展的基本事理。
We need to understand the basic logic of how things develop.
Principles, reasons, logic, or understanding; to manage or deal with.
我完全理解你的想法和感受。
I fully understand your thoughts and feelings.
Natural sciences (e.g., in '理科' science subjects); sometimes specifically physics (e.g., in '数理化' math, physics, chemistry); also refers to physical therapy (e.g., in '理疗').
她的腿受伤了，需要进行理疗。
Her leg is injured and needs physical therapy.
To manage, process, or handle things according to their inherent laws or certain standards.
我们应该学会自己管理好时间。
We should learn to manage our time well.
to pay attention to; to respond to (someone's words or actions)
他说了半天，却没人理他
He talked for a long time, but no one paid attention to him.
In ancient times, refers to a judicial official or judge.
在古代，负责审判案件的官员被称为理。
In ancient times, officials responsible for judging cases were called 'li'.
Common Words and Phrases with 理
1
financial management
很多人都希望通过学习理财知识，让自己的财富增值。
Many people hope to increase their wealth by learning financial management knowledge.
2
To pay attention to or acknowledge (someone or something).
他向她打招呼，但她没有理睬他。
He greeted her, but she didn't acknowledge him.
3
should; ought to; it is only right or proper
既然他答应了帮忙，就理当尽力而为。
Since he promised to help, he should naturally do his best.
4
Indefensible (of actions or arguments)
小明知道自己理短，所以不再和妈妈争辩了。
Xiao Ming knew he was in the wrong, so he stopped arguing with his mother.
5
The act or process of cutting and styling hair.
他每个月都会去理发店理发，保持整洁的形象。
He goes to the barbershop for a haircut every month to maintain a neat appearance.
6
A person whose job is to cut and style people's hair.
我的理发师技术非常好，每次都能给我剪出满意的发型。
My barber is very skilled and always gives me a satisfactory haircut.
7
8
Physics and chemistry.
学生们在实验室里进行理化实验，探索物质的性质和变化。
Students conduct physics and chemistry experiments in the lab to explore the properties and changes of matter.
9
To understand, comprehend, or pay attention to something or someone; also to deal with or handle.
你别理会那些流言蜚语，专心做自己的事情。
Don't pay attention to those rumors; just focus on your own work.
10
To understand or comprehend.
我们应该互相理解，这样才能更好地合作。
We should understand each other so that we can cooperate better.
11
Science subjects (such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology) as an academic discipline or department in schools and colleges.
他擅长理科，尤其是物理。
He is good at science subjects, especially physics.
12
to be in the wrong; to be at fault
他知道自己理亏，所以没有再争辩。
He knew he was in the wrong, so he didn't argue further.
13
To feel apprehensive and have a guilty conscience because one knows they are in the wrong or lack a valid reason.
小明因为没有按时完成作业，面对老师的提问时总是理亏心虚
Because Xiao Ming didn't finish his homework on time, he always felt guilty and uneasy when questioned by the teacher.
14
Physical therapy (physiotherapy) is a medical treatment that uses physical methods, such as exercise, massage, and heat, to help patients recover from injury or illness and improve their physical function.
医生建议他进行理疗，以帮助恢复手臂的功能。
The doctor recommended physical therapy to help restore arm function.
15
Order and disorder; to bring order out of chaos.
经过一番努力，他终于把杂乱的思绪理乱清楚了
After considerable effort, he finally managed to sort out his jumbled thoughts.
16
Theory; a set of principles or ideas.
我们需要将理论知识与实践相结合。
We need to combine theoretical knowledge with practice.
More words with 理
- shén审lǐ理trial, hear a case
- shū梳lǐ理organize, sort out
- zhēn真lǐ理truth
- zhéng整lǐ理to arrange; to put in order
- còu腠lǐ理Skin and muscular interstices, Interstices
- hù护lǐ理Nursing; care; to tend and protect.
- shì事lǐ理the reason or principle of a matter
- tiáo条lǐ理Orderliness, System
- zhù助lǐ理An assistant or deputy.
- bèi悖lǐ理Illogical, Absurdity
- jiǎng讲lǐ理to be reasonable, reasonable
- liè裂lǐ理Cleavage, Fissility
- lùn论lǐ理Reason, Logic
- shū疏lǐ理sort out, straighten out
- xié协lǐ理assistant manager
- yào药lǐ理pharmacology
- yī医lǐ理Medical theory, Principles of medicine
- zài在lǐ理reasonable; right; sensible
- zhì至lǐ理ultimate truth, eternal verity
- àn按lǐ理according to reason; normally
Idioms with 理
- lǐ理qū屈cí词qióng穷at a loss for words due to weak arguments
- lǐ理suǒ所bì必rán然logically inevitable
- lǐ理suǒ所dāng当rán然natural and justified
- lǐ理yīng应rú如cǐ此It is only right and proper
- lǐ理zhí直qì气zhuàng壮speak with confidence due to being in the right
- ài爱dá答bù不lǐ理aloof and unresponsive
- ài爱lǐ理bù不lǐ理aloof and indifferent
- bǐng秉gōng公bàn办lǐ理handle affairs with fairness and impartiality
- bò擘jī肌fēn分lǐ理analyze in great detail
- bù不kě可lǐ理yù喻beyond reasoning
- bù不lǐ理bù不cǎi睬ignore completely
- cí词qióng穷lǐ理qū屈at a loss for words due to weak arguments
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Open the tool →Questions about 理
What does 理 mean in Chinese?
理 (lǐ) means “To manage” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 理?
理 is pronounced lǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 理 have?
理 has 11 strokes.
How do you write 理?
理 is written in 11 strokes, starting from the radical 王. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 理?
The radical of 理 is 王, and 理 is a phono-semantic compound.