Chinese–EnglishWith examples

理由

lǐ yóu · li you

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 5Measure word: 个 gè

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. reason
  2. grounds
  3. justification
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In a conversation

0:23 cartoon

A good reason

  1. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)为什么(wèishénme)把(bǎ)椅子(yǐzi)搬(bān)到(dào)桌子(zhuōzi)上(shàng)？说(shuō)个(gè)理由(lǐyóu)，

    Why did you put the chair on the table? Give me a reason.

  2. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)有(yǒu)理由(lǐyóu)，地板(dìbǎn)太(tài)脏(zāng)了(le)，

    I have a reason. The floor is too dirty.

  3. Dengdeng

    这(zhè)不(bù)是(shì)理由(lǐyóu)，地板(dìbǎn)是(shì)你(nǐ)昨天(zuótiān)拖(tuō)的(de)！

    That's not a reason. You mopped the floor yesterday!

  4. Liangliang

    好吧(hǎoba)，真正(zhēnzhèng)的(de)理由(lǐyóu)是(shì)我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)坐(zuò)高(gāo)一点(yīdiǎn)，

    Okay. The real reason is that I want to sit a bit higher.

  5. Dengdeng

    这个(zhège)理由(lǐyóu)我(wǒ)接受(jiēshòu)！给(gěi)我(wǒ)也(yě)搬(bān)一(yī)把(bǎ)椅子(yǐzi)！

    I accept that reason! Move a chair up for me too!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)没(méi)发(fā)现(xiàn)任(rèn)何(hé)我(wǒ)该(gāi)道(dào)歉(qiàn)的(de)理(lǐ)由(yóu)。

I don't see any reason why I have to apologize.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

请(qǐng)你(nǐ)说(shuō)说(shuō)迟(chí)到(dào)的(de)理(lǐ)由(yóu)。

Please explain your reason for being late.

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How to write

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The characters

Explore individually
理
lǐ

texture; grain (of wood)

由
yóu

to follow; from

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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