理由 (lǐyóu) · reason

理由 (lǐyóu) means “reason; grounds; justification”. It is written with 2 characters: 理 (science) + 由 (by). It is an HSK 3 word in the 2021 standard.

How 理由 is built

What 理 is made of

王wáng — king
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 土tǔ — earth
  - 十 — ten
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
里lǐ — unit of distance equal to 0.5km
- 田tián — field
- 土tǔ — earth
  - 十 — ten
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: 王 gives the meaning, 里 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

What 由 is made of

由 is not built from smaller parts; it is written with 5 strokes.

Origin hint: Road 丨 leading to the farm 田 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

你迟到的理由是什么？Nǐ chídào de lǐyóu shì shénme?What's your reason for being late?

他没有理由不来。Tā méiyǒu lǐyóu bù lái.He has no reason not to come.

What does 理由 mean?

理由 (lǐyóu) means “reason; grounds; justification”.

How do you pronounce 理由?

理由 is pronounced lǐyóu.

Which HSK level is 理由?

理由 is in HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 5.

Learn 理由 with its group

It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 50: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.