Chinese–EnglishWith examples

道理

dào li · dao li

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2Old HSK 5Measure word: 个 gè

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. reason
  2. argument
  3. sense
  4. principle
  5. basis
  6. justification
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In a conversation

0:15 cartoon

The sleep rule

  1. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)早点(zǎodiǎn)睡(shuì)，明天(míngtiān)才(cái)有(yǒu)精神(jīngshén)。

    I want to sleep early so I have energy tomorrow.

  2. Liangliang

    有道理(yǒudàoli)。

    That makes sense.

  3. Dengdeng

    不过(bùguò)我(wǒ)还(hái)想(xiǎng)玩(wán)一会儿(yīhuìr)游戏(yóuxì)。

    But I also want to play a game for a while.

  4. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)刚才(gāngcái)说(shuō)的(de)道理(dàoli)呢(ne)？

    What about the reasoning you just gave?

  5. Dengdeng

    道理(dàoli)我(wǒ)都(dōu)懂(dǒng)，可是(kěshì)手(shǒu)不(bù)听话(tīnghuà)。

    I understand the reasoning, but my hands will not listen.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

你(nǐ)说(shuō)的(de)话(huà)没(méi)有(yǒu)道(dào)理(li)。

What you are saying does not make sense.

Tatoeba: Chinese by egg0073 · English by Zifre · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

在(zài)我(wǒ)看(kàn)来(lái)，他(tā)是(shì)有(yǒu)道(dào)理(li)的(de)。

In my opinion, he is correct.

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

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
道
dào

road; path; (bound form) way; reason; principle

理
lǐ

texture; grain (of wood)

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.

More words starting with DExplore words in context