lǐ
reason
Original meaning:
cut jade
Phonosemantic compound. 𤣩 represents the meaning and 里 represents the sound.
Evolution
Bronze script
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal script
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical script
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)Regular script
ModernDefinitions
lǐ
reason, logic; manage; texture; grain (of wood); inner essence; intrinsic order; reason; logic; truth; science; natural science (esp. physics); to manage; to pay attention to; to run (affairs); to handle; to put in order; to tidy up
Sources