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lí do

Level ≈B1 (approx.) noun Sino-Vietnamese Top 3,000 most common
Hanoi [li˧˦ zɔ˧˧]Huế [lɪj˨˩˦ jɔ˧˧]Saigon [lɪj˦˥ jɔ˧˧] browser voice
Syllables · tones

Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →

lí do means a reason; an excuse.

Chinese characters: 理由 (理 “reason” + 由 “reason”)

Meanings of lí do in English

Noun

  1. a reason (that which causes: a cause)
    • lí do tại saothe reason why
  2. an excuse (explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgement)
    • viện lí do/cớto use an excuse

Words with lí do

Example sentences with lí do

  • Tôi nghỉ hưu vì lí do sức khoẻ. I resigned for health reasons.
  • Đó là lí do vì sao Internet được phát minh. This is why internet was invented.
  • Tôi không biết lí do tại sao cô ấy vắng mặt. I don't know the reason for her absence.
  • Cứ một ngày trong tuần anh ấy sẽ nhịn ăn vì lí do sức khỏe. One day a week he fasts for health reasons.
  • Sự phân biệt đối xử vì lí do chủng tộc sẽ không được dung thứ. Discrimination on grounds of race will not be tolerated.
  • Nó ghét toán. Nó sẽ tìm đủ mọi lí do để không phải đến trường. He hates math. He'll find any excuse not to come to school.
  • Tôi không thể tin bạn, dù cho bạn có đưa ra lí do gì đi nữa. I cannot believe you, whatever reasons you may give.
  • Em ấy ghét toán. Em ấy sẽ tìm đủ mọi lí do để không phải đến trường. He hates math. He'll find any excuse not to come to school.

Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 理由, composed of 理 (“reason”) and 由 (“reason”).

Frequently asked questions

What does lí do mean in English?

lí do (noun) means "a reason; an excuse".

How do you pronounce lí do?

IPA: Hanoi [li˧˦ zɔ˧˧]; Saigon [lɪj˦˥ jɔ˧˧]. Tones: lí — rising tone (sắc), do — level tone (ngang).

Is lí do a Sino-Vietnamese word?

Yes. lí do is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 理由.

Meanings, pronunciation and etymology from English Wiktionary (wiktionary.org, via kaikki.org; CC BY-SA 4.0), reviewed and edited; example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). IPA shown for three accents: Hanoi (Northern), Huế (Central) and Saigon (Southern). The Listen button uses your browser's Vietnamese voice, for reference only. Levels are approximate, estimated from word frequency. Spotted a mistake? Let NgonNgu know.