Definition & Meaning

1.argue; reason; reason things out

2.(usually used in the negative) listen to reason; be reasonable

Word usage

shuō lǐ

说 理

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Chinese dictionary
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1
v.argue; reason; reason things out
- shuō lǐ de wén zì
  说理的文字
  discursive words
- shuō lǐ de fāng fǎ
  说理的方法
  discursive approach
- rú guǒ shuō lǐ shuō de hǎo shuō de qià dàng nà shì huì yǒu xiào lì de
  如果说理说得好，说得恰当，那是会有效力的。
  If we reason earnestly and properly, it will be effective.
synonym
jiǎng lǐ讲理 lùn lǐ论理
2
v.(usually used in the negative) listen to reason; be reasonable
- nǐ zěn me bù shuō lǐ
  你怎么不说理？
  How can you be so unreasonable?
- bù néng shuō lǐ
  不能说理
  cannot listen to reason
- nǐ zhè ge rén shuō lǐ bù shuō lǐ
  你这个人说理不说理？
  Won't you listen to reason? Or how could you be so unreasonable?
synonym
jiǎng lǐ讲理

Word usage

Separable word
"说" and "理" can be combined as one word, or be used separately with other elements inserted.
- 跟他说了半天理，一点儿用也没有。
  All this reasoning with him is useless.
- 他们没考虑别人，只说了自己的理。
  They didn't think about others, and they just talked about their own reasons.
- 他这个人哪，你跟他说不清理。
  You can’t reason things out with him.

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