DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT
理論
简 理论 · 繁 理論Mandarin · pinyin lǐ lùn
Meanings
- theory
- Classifier: 個 gè
- to argue
- to take notice of
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Mandarin tones
3–4 · li3 lun4
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
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Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
lei5 leon6
Cantonese word readings for 理論. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
noun
- (mathematics, physics, literary, politics, etc.) theory
- theory (as opposed to practice)
- reason
verb
- to debate; to argue (with)
- to reason things out; to judge between right and wrong
- (obsolete) to look after; to tend; to be in charge of
adj
- (attributive) theoretical
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack