lí sự
nounverb Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [li˧˦ sɨ˧˨ʔ]Huế [lɪj˨˩˦ ʂɨ˨˩ʔ]Saigon [lɪj˦˥ ʂɨ˨˩˨] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
lí sự means sophistry.
Chinese characters: 理事
Meanings of lí sự in English
Noun
- derogatory sophistry
- lí sự cùnbullcrap arguments
Verb
- derogatory to be sophistic
- archaic to arrange or manage matters
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 理事, Japanese 理事 (“director”), Literary Chinese 理事 (lǐshì, “to arrange or manage matters”). The original Chinese compound was adapted from "to arrange" to "arranger", or "director", a person who arranges things. The Vietnamese usage, on the other hand, seems to rely on a different sense of Chinese 理 (lǐ), which is "reason" rather than "to arrange".
Frequently asked questions
What does lí sự mean in English?
lí sự (noun) means "sophistry".
How do you pronounce lí sự?
IPA: Hanoi [li˧˦ sɨ˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [lɪj˦˥ ʂɨ˨˩˨]. Tones: lí — rising tone (sắc), sự — heavy tone (nặng).
Is lí sự a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. lí sự is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 理事.