Meet 理 in words about reason, science and cooking. The examples connect each reading to a useful everyday context.

The idea

理 has 11 strokes; follow their order in the linked diagram. Read 料理（りょうり） and 理由（りゆう） as complete words, because a character’s pronunciation depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
料理りょうりThe food at this shop is delicious.
理由りゆうPlease tell me why you were late.
理科りかI like science class.
無理むりPlease don’t push yourself too hard.
理解りかいI understood that explanation.

Examples

  • この店みせの料理りょうりはおいしいです。The food at this shop is delicious.
  • 日曜日にちようびにいっしょに料理りょうりをしませんか。Would you like to cook together on Sunday?
  • 遅おくれた理由りゆうを教おしえてください。Please tell me why you were late.
  • 理科りかの授業じゅぎょうが好すきです。I like science class.
  • 無理むりをしないでください。Please don’t push yourself too hard.
  • その説明せつめいを理解りかいしました。I understood that explanation.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

料理 means cooking or a dish; 理由 means a reason. Do not assume 理 has the same meaning in every compound. Compare the shape of 理 with 里.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 料理 in hiragana. 「この店みせの料理はおいしいです。」

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    りょうり

    料理 is read りょうり. In the example: The food at this shop is delicious. Here it means “dish”.

  2. Write the reading of 理由 in hiragana. 「遅おくれた理由を教おしえてください。」

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    りゆう

    理由 is read りゆう. In the example: Please tell me why you were late. Here it means “reason”.

  3. Write the missing kanji: 料＿［理／里］（りょうり）.

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    理

    理 completes 料理, read りょうり. In the example: The food at this shop is delicious. Here it means “dish”.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 理 from memory and read 料理 and 理由 aloud. Then check the readings against the examples.