Learn Chinese Weekly

不讲道理 (bù jiǎng dàolǐ) describes someone with whom you cannot reason.

我从来没见过这么不讲道理的人.
Wǒ cónglái méi jiànguò zhème bù jiǎng dàolǐ de rén.
I’ve never seen anyone so unreasonable.

You could also use the idiom 不可理喻 (bùkě lǐyù) to characterize a person who is impervious to reason. And, when you get really frustrated with such a person, you could invoke another Chinese idiom and exclaim:

岂有此理!
Qǐyǒucǐlǐ!
Preposterous! (How can this be so?)

什么道理 (shénme dàolǐ) means the same as 什么原因 (shénme yuányīn), or 为什么 (wèishéme), i.e. why, or for what reason.

她什么道理不给我打电话?
Tā shénme dàolǐ bù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà?
For what reason does she not call me?

合理 (hélǐ) also means reasonable, but its meaning leans toward being logical or rational. 不合理 (bù hélǐ) means illogical, irrational or unjustified.

这不是管理团队的合理方式.
Zhè bùshì guǎnlǐ tuánduì de hélǐ fāngshì.
This is not a reasonable way to manage the group.

理所当然 (lǐsuǒdāngrán) is an idiom that means of course, naturally, “as is proper”, or “to be expected” .

借钱归还是理所当然的事.
Jiè qián guīhuán shì lǐsuǒdāngrán de shì.
Returning borrowed money is a matter of course.

As 理 (lǐ) refers to an intrinsic order, it is part of many words that concern texture, grain (in wood, meat, etc.), truth, theory, natural sciences, understanding, management and tidying up.

For example, 纹理 (wén lǐ) are the vein lines in marble or fingerprints, and the grain in wood, meat, etc.

理性 (lǐxìng ) means intellectuality, rationality, reasoning.

理智 (lǐzhì) means wisdom or intellect.

理念 (lǐniàn) is a concept, a notion or a vision.

理想 (lǐxiǎng) means an ideal. It can be used as the adjective “ideal”.

理解 (lǐjiě ) means to understand or to comprehend.

理会 (lǐhuì) means to pay attention to or to take notice of someone or something

理睬 (lǐcǎi) is to give attention to a person.

爱理不理 (ài lǐ bù lǐ) means to be cold or standoffish to someone.

我不知道什么道理她对我爱理不理.
Wǒ bù zhīdào shénme dàolǐ tā duì wǒ ài lǐ bù lǐ.
I don’t know why she is giving me the cold shoulder.

原理 (yuánlǐ) is a principle (mechanism), a theorem, or a doctrine.

理论 (lǐlùn) means theory. Therefore, 理论上 (lǐlùn shàng) means theoretically.

理科 (lǐkē) are the sciences as opposed to 文科 (wénkē the liberal arts).

物理 (wùlǐ) is physics, 地理 (dìlǐ) is geography, and 心理 (xīnlǐ) is psychology. Please note that 心里 (xīnlǐ) means in one’s hart or mind.

我心里很清楚，我不会学好心理学.
Wǒ xīnlǐ hěn qīngchǔ, wǒ bù huì xuéhǎo xīnlǐ xué.
I know clearly in my heart that I won’t do well in psychology.

管理 (guǎnlǐ) is to manage.

助理 (zhùlǐ) is an assistant.

理事长 (lǐshì zhǎng) is a chairman.

经理 (jīnglǐ) is a manager.

总经理 (zǒng jīnglǐ) is the general manager.

总理 (zǒnglǐ) is a prime minister.

处理 (chǔlǐ) is to deal with a matter. 办理 (bànlǐ) is to handle a transaction or to conduct a business.

他必须尽快处理这件事.
Tā bìxū jǐnkuài chǔlǐ zhè jiàn shì.
He must take care of this matter as soon as possible.

修理 (xiūlǐ) is to repair.

你的车修理好了吗？
Nǐ de chē xiūlǐ hǎole ma?
Has your car been repaired.

The barbar who takes care of trimming your hair is called 理发师 (lǐfǎ shī).

料理 (liàolǐ) as a verb means the same as 处理 (chǔlǐ). As a noun, it concerns food preparation.

你最喜欢哪个国家的料理？
Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎge guójiā de liàolǐ?
Which country’s cuisine do you enjoy the most?