yuán lǐ
principe; doctrine; axiome
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这个机器的原理很简单。
Zhège jīqì de yuánlǐ hěn jiǎndān.
The principle of this machine is very simple.
我们必须了解这个定理的原理才能解决这个问题。
Wǒmen bìxū liǎojiě zhège dìnglǐ de yuánlǐ cáinéng jiějué zhège wèntí.
We must understand the principle of this theorem in order to solve this problem.
这个现象的原理还没有被完全理解。
Zhège xiànxiàng de yuánlǐ hái méiyǒu bèi wánquán lǐjiě.
The principle of this phenomenon has not yet been fully understood.
结果 (jié guǒ)
result
现象 (xiàn xiàng)
phenomenon
The Chinese word 原理 (yuánlǐ) is composed of two characters: 原 (yuán), meaning "origin" or "source", and 理 (lǐ), meaning "principle" or "reason". Together, they form the compound word 原理, which means "principle" or "basic law".The character 原 (yuán) is derived from the oracle bone script, which depicts a person standing under a roof. This character originally meant "to cover" or "to protect", but over time it came to be used in a more abstract sense to mean "origin" or "source".The character 理 (lǐ) is also derived from the oracle bone script, which depicts a hand holding a knife. This character originally meant "to cut" or "to divide", but over time it came to be used in a more abstract sense to mean "principle" or "reason".The compound word 原理 (yuánlǐ) is first recorded in the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). It was originally used in a philosophical context to refer to the fundamental principles of the universe. However, over time it came to be used in a more general sense to refer to any basic law or principle.Today, 原理 (yuánlǐ) is a common word in Chinese. It is used in a variety of contexts, including science, engineering, and philosophy.
