Chinese word

料理

Pronunciation

Pinyinliào lǐ

Meaning

  • verbhandle

Example

我可以帮你料理这些文件。wǒ ké yǐ bāng nǐ liào lǐ zhè xiē wén jiàn

I can help you handle these documents.

Illustration for 料理 (handle)

More examples

她每天花一小时料理家庭的琐事。tā měi tiān huā yì xiǎo shí liào lǐ jiā tíng de suǒ shì

She spends an hour every day handling household chores.

Core concept

A matter is taken in hand, sorted into order, and moved toward a practical result.

Common phrases

  • 料理事务liào lǐ shì wù

    handle affairs

  • 料理家务liào lǐ jiā wù

    handle household chores

Similar words

处理chú lǐ: Deals with materials, affairs, or problems by organizing them and carrying out the needed work.
办理bàn lǐ: Carries official documents or procedures through the required steps to completion.
安排ān pái: Decides when things happen, what order they follow, and where they are placed.

Definition in Chinese

对文书、事务等进行收拾、整理并实际处理。duì wén shū shì wù děng jìn xíng shōu shí zhéng lǐ bìng shí jì chú lǐ

Word origin

料理 (liàolǐ, "handle and put in order") is formed from 料 (liào, "assess or handle") + 理 (lǐ, "put in order"), giving the compound its sense of taking practical charge of a matter.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may reserve "handle" for a problem or object, but this verb also fits routine paperwork and arrangements, making it useful for describing practical work.

Other meanings

  • processverb
  • deal withverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word