Chinese word

原理

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuán lǐ

Meaning

  • nounprinciple

Example

这台仪器的原理很复杂。zhè tái yí qì de yuán lǐ hěn fù zá

The principle behind this instrument is very complicated.

Illustration for 原理 (principle)

More examples

这台机器的工作原理很简单。zhè tái jī qì de gōng zuò yuán lǐ hěn jiǎn dān

The working principle of this machine is very simple.

Core concept

The underlying rule or mechanism that makes a process work.

Common phrases

  • 工作原理gōng zuò yuán lǐ

    working principle

  • 基本原理jī běn yuán lǐ

    basic principle

  • 操作原理cāo zuò yuán lǐ

    operating principle

Similar words

原则yuán zé: A basic guideline that directs actions and decisions.
规律guī lǜ: A regular pattern or law that repeatedly appears in phenomena or data.
原因yuán yīn: The direct reason or trigger for a result or event.
理论lǐ lùn: An explanatory framework or way of thinking built from several facts or observations.

Definition in Chinese

构成某一现象或过程的基本道理或规律，用来解释事物如何发生或运行。gòu chéng mǒu yí xiàn xiàng huò guò chéng de jī běn dào lǐ huò guī lǜ yòng lái jiě shì shì wù rú hé fā shēng huò yùn xíng

Word origin

原理 (yuánlǐ, "principle") combines 原 (yuán, "source") and 理 (lǐ, "underlying order"), pointing to the basic order from which a process can be understood.

Usage tips

  • English uses principle for both a personal rule and a scientific basis, but this Chinese noun strongly favors the scientific or technical sense.

Related words

  • 原理图yuán lǐ túschematic diagramnoun

Word lists with this word