理り

noun

reason; principle; logic

Refers to the rational basis, logical coherence, or underlying principle of something. Often used in phrases like 理にかなう (to be reasonable) or 理をわきまえる (to understand reason).

• 彼かれの主しゅ張ちょうは理りにかなっている。

  His argument is reasonable.

• 理りをわきまえた行こう動どうをとるべきだ。

  You should act with an understanding of reason.

noun

general principle (Buddhism)

Buddhist term contrasting universal principle (理) with individual concrete phenomena (事). Rare outside specialized contexts.

See also: 事 (じ)

• 仏ぶっ教きょうでは、理りと事じの区く別べつが重じゅう要ようとされる。

  In Buddhism, the distinction between principle and phenomenon is considered important.

noun

underlying cosmic principle (neo-Confucianism)

In neo-Confucian thought, 理 denotes the fundamental rational principle governing the cosmos. Highly specialized and rare.

• 朱しゅ子し学がくでは、理りが万ばん物ぶつの根こん源げんとされる。

  In Zhu Xi's philosophy, li (理) is considered the origin of all things.