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N4

Kanji 理: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 理: logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth

Key takeaways

Kanji 理: logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N4

Meaning

logicarrangementreasonjusticetruth

On reading

Kun reading

ことわり

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 理

logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

王 + 里

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Polishing a gemstone (王/玉) according to its natural grain, much like the organized layout of a village (里), represents the natural logic or reason of things. It signifies understanding the underlying order or truth of the world.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

  • 義理ぎり

    duty / social obligation / courtesy

  • 真理しんり

    truth / fundamental truth

  • 推理すいり

    reasoning / inference / mystery genre

  • 生理せいり

    physiology / menstrual period

  • 調理ちょうり

    cooking / food preparation

  • 理屈りくつ

    reason / logic / theory

  • 理性りせい

    reason / rationality / common sense

  • 理論りろん

    theory / logical explanation / idea

Commonly used words

  • 義理
    ぎり

    duty / social obligation / courtesy

  • 真理
    しんり

    truth / fundamental truth

  • 推理
    すいり

    reasoning / inference / mystery genre

  • 生理
    せいり

    physiology / menstrual period

  • 調理
    ちょうり

    cooking / food preparation

  • 理屈
    りくつ

    reason / logic / theory

Example sentences

Example 1

でプレゼントをあげた。

Translation

I gave a gift out of duty.

Example 2

を重んじる人です。

Translation

He is a person who values duty.

Example 3

哲学は真を探す学問です。

Translation

Philosophy is the study that seeks the truth.

Example 4

は時に厳しいかもしれない。

Translation

The truth can sometimes be harsh.

Kanji 理: logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth | Daily Nihongo