lǐ yóu
raison; justification
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我迟到了，理由是路上堵车。
wǒ chí dào le ，lǐ yóu shì lù shànɡ dǔ chē .
I was late because there was a traffic jam on the road.
我不想听你的理由。
wǒ bù xiǎnɡ tīnɡ nǐ de lǐ yóu .
I don't want to hear your reasons.
他没来，理由是他生病了。
tā méi lái ，lǐ yóu shì tā shēnɡ bìnɡ le .
He didn't come. The reason was he was sick.
原因 (yuányīn)
cause
根据 (gēnjù)
basis
The Chinese word **理由** (lǐyóu) is composed of two characters: **理** (lǐ) and **由** (yóu). **理** originally meant "pattern" or "principle," and later came to mean "reason" or "logic." **由** originally meant "origin" or "source," and later came to mean "reason" or "cause." Thus, the compound word **理由** literally means "reason and cause," and is used to refer to a reason or explanation for something.**理由** is a commonly used word in Chinese, and can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, it can be used to explain why someone did something, or to provide a justification for a decision. It can also be used to express an opinion or belief, or to provide evidence to support an argument.Understanding the etymology of **理由** can help HSK learners to better understand the meaning and usage of this important word. By knowing the original meanings of the characters that make up **理由**, learners can gain a deeper understanding of the concept of "reason" or "explanation" in Chinese.
