Meaning and Usage
The character 里 (lǐ) primarily means "inside" or "within" when referring to a physical space. It is commonly used to indicate the interior of a place, such as a house or container. Additionally, 里 is a traditional Chinese unit of distance, historically about 400 meters, still used in some contexts to describe distances.
Common Collocations
- 家里 (jiā lǐ): inside the home
- 抽屉里 (chōuti lǐ): inside the drawer
- 十里路 (shí lǐ lù): ten li of road (distance)
Usage Notes
When used to indicate location, 里 follows the noun it modifies and specifies the interior. For example, 家里 means "inside the house." When used as a distance unit, it often appears after a number and before 路 (road) or other distance-related words. Avoid confusing 里 with 里面 (lǐmiàn), which also means "inside" but is more formal or specific. 里 is more colloquial and often used in everyday speech.