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Kanji Detail for 理 - "reason"

理

  • Meaning

    理 means "reason." Also associated with pattern, to govern.

    1. Pattern - Grain; texture; surface markings.

    2. To govern - To polish; to arrange.

    3. Reason - Logic; principle; right way.

    4. Science - Physics; natural science.

    5. To understand - To comprehend; to realize.

    6. To judge - A judicial official.

  • Words using 理

    • 理事 りじ Listen director; trustee
    • 理由 りゆう Listen reason; grounds; pretext
    • 管理 かんり Listen control; management (e.g. of a business)
    • 処理 しょり Listen processing; dealing with; treatment
    • 料理 りょうり Listen cooking; cookery; cuisine
    • 理解 りかい Listen understanding; comprehension; appreciation
    • 代理 だいり Listen representation; agency; proxy
    • 倫理 りんり Listen ethics; morals

  • Four-character idioms with 理

    • 無理難題 むりなんだい Listen unreasonable demand
    • 事理明白 じりめいはく Listen facts being beyond dispute; logic being indisputable
    • 天理人情 てんりにんじょう Listen the laws of nature and humanity
    • 整理整頓 せいりせいとん Listen keeping things tidy and in order
    • 比翼連理 ひよくれんり Listen marital vows
    • 深層心理 しんそうしんり Listen deep psyche; unconscious mind; depth psychology

  • Tattoo check: 理

    • Verified meaning: reason
    • Official Jōyō kanji — a standard character every Japanese reader recognises
    • Used in real Japanese given names (read あや, おさむ, ことは, さだむ)
    • Also carries these associations: pattern, to govern

    A single kanji rarely maps one-to-one onto an English word. Read the meanings and associations above as a set — a character that fits the dictionary definition can still carry a connotation you did not intend.

  • Name readings of 理

    Given names 理(あや)Listen 理(おさむ)Listen 理(ことは)Listen 理(さだむ)Listen 理(さとし)Listen 理(さとみ)Listen 理(さとり)Listen 理(さとる)Listen 理(すなほ)Listen 理(たかし)Listen 理(ただし)Listen 理(ただす)Listen

  • Dictionary Citations

    The meaning above is based on the following sources:

    KANJIDIC2 A comprehensive Japanese-English kanji dictionary

    logic; arrangement; reason; justice; truth

    Unihan Unicode Han Database for CJK characters

    reason, logic; manage

    CC-CEDICT A Chinese-English dictionary

    texture; grain (of wood); inner essence; intrinsic order; reason; logic; truth; science; natural science (esp. physics); to manage; to pay attention to; to run (affairs); to handle; to put in order; to tidy up

    Make Me a Hanzi Open-source Chinese character data

    science, reason, logic; to manage

    XSZD Xuéshēng Zìdiǎn (學生字典) - Student's Dictionary

    Anciently, a term for polishing jade. By extension, all governance is called 理. Managing affairs is called 理事. As well as 整理 (to arrange), 清理 (to clear up), 修理 (to repair). | Order. When beginning to end, root to branch follow sequence without confusion, it is called 有條有理 (methodical). 條 refers to large matters, 理 to fine details. All phrases like 事理 (nature of things), 文理 (coherence) have this meaning. | Reason. What should be done is called 道 (way). The explanation of why is called 理 (reason). Reason is the natural way. | In animal and plant bodies composed of fibrous material, the fine threads that can be analyzed are all called 理. As in 肌理 (muscle texture), 腠理 (skin texture), referring to fine lines visible on the skin. | Ancient officials judging legal cases were called 理. Hence the highest court is called 大理院. | To review is called 理, meaning to organize and synthesize old knowledge with new learning. | To respond. Colloquially, not responding is called 不理. Sound entering the heart and comprehending is called 理會. | 理學 (Neo-Confucianism). The study of mind, nature, and life. Also called 道學. | 理科 (sciences). Academic fields studying the properties of matter. Such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, natural history.

  • Onyomi

    tip

    ri(リ) リ

  • Kunyomi

    tip

    kotowari(ことわり) ことわり

  • Strokes

    tip

    11 strokes

  • Radical

    tip

    玉 王 (tama・tamahen・o・ohen)

  • Related Keywords

    reason pattern to govern to judge to understand judgment order science principle logic texture manage administer rational comprehension

Sentences including 理

  • She made much use of milk in her cooking.

  • He set things in order in his room.

  • For what reason did you cry?

  • This book is too difficult to understand.

  • She has to study science.

  • I will do anything in reason.

  • My bicycle needs fixing.

  • This dish goes very well with sake.

  • I don't know the reason why she isn't coming.

  • I can't make her out.

Sentences from Japanese classical masterpieces

More kanji with the radical 玉 王 (tama・tamahen・o・ohen)

See all kanji with this radical →

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