lí

Cô ấy là giáo viên dạy lí.

Definition

1. Noun (Abbreviation):

   • Reason / logic: A shortened, literary form of "lý do" (reason) or "lý lẽ" (argument, rationale). It refers to a cause, justification, or principle of reasoning.
   • Physics: A common abbreviation for "vật lý," the natural science dealing with matter, energy, and their interactions.
   • A type of plant: An abbreviation for "thiên lý," a type of flowering vine (scientific name: Telosma cordata).

2. Noun (Historical/Archaic):

   • Village chief: An abbreviation for "lý trưởng," the traditional head of a Vietnamese village during feudal and colonial times.
   • Plum tree: An archaic poetic term for a plum tree.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Reason):

  • Anh ấy nói rất có lí. (What he says is very reasonable.)
  • Tôi không hiểu lí do tại sao. (I don't understand the reason why.)

• Noun (Physics):

  • Cô ấy là giáo viên dạy lí. (She is a physics teacher.)
  • Tôi thích học lí. (I like studying physics.)

• Noun (Plant):

  • Hoa thiên lí (hoa lí) có mùi thơm. (The thiên lý flower has a fragrant smell.)

Advanced Usage

• "có lí": to be right, to have reason.

  • Bạn hoàn toàn có lí trong việc này. (You are completely right about this matter.)

• "tranh luận về mặt lí": to argue/debate on theoretical or logical grounds.

  • Chúng ta chỉ nên tranh luận về mặt lí. (We should only debate on theoretical grounds.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lý do (n): Reason, cause.

  • Đâu là lý do thực sự? (What is the real reason?)

• Lý thuyết (n): Theory.

  • Đó chỉ là lý thuyết. (That's just theory.)

• Lý trưởng (n, historical): Village chief.

  • Lý trưởng là người đứng đầu làng xưa. (The lý trưởng was the head of the village in the past.)

• Vật lý (n): Physics.

  • Vật lý học là một ngành khoa học cơ bản. (Physics is a fundamental science.)

Synonyms

• Reason: A cause, explanation, or justification.
• Logic: Rational thinking or the principle of reasoning.
• Physics: The scientific study of matter and energy.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Lí sự cùn" / "Cãi lí": To argue stubbornly or sophistically.

  • Đừng có mà cãi lí với tôi! (Don't you argue sophistically with me!)

• "Nghe có lí": That sounds reasonable.

  • Kế hoạch của cậu nghe có lí đấy. (Your plan sounds reasonable.)

• "Đúng lí": By rights; as it should be logically.

  • Đúng lí ra anh phải đến sớm hơn. (By rights, you should have arrived earlier.)