理由 (lǐ yóu) — reason in Mandarin
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#1081 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
理由 is pronounced lǐ yóu. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Tā yǒu chōngfèn de lǐyóu chídào.
He has a good reason for being late.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 理由 mean?+
理由 (lǐ yóu) means "reason" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 理由?+
理由 is pronounced lǐ yóu. It uses the tone 3 (rising/dipping), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 理由 in Mandarin?+
理由 is the #1081 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 理由 fits
Every HSK 5 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
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What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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