Meaning of 处理
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to handle; to deal with
- to punish
- to treat sth by a special process; to process
- to sell at reduced prices
How to use 处理
处理 is a common verb for handling problems, tasks, data, or people who broke rules. It also appears in shops to mean selling goods cheaply. Example: 这件事我来处理。(Zhè jiàn shì wǒ lái chǔlǐ.) I will handle this matter.
处 (chǔ) means to deal with or be placed somewhere, and 理 (lǐ) means to put in order, as in 道理 (dàolǐ). When you 处理 a problem, you deal with it and put it in order.
Common mistake: Learners often read 处 here as chù, the fourth tone used in 到处 (dàochù) and 好处 (hǎochù). In 处理 it is third tone, chǔ, so the pair sounds like chǔlǐ, which in speech becomes chú lǐ because of tone sandhi.
处理 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
处 chù · place · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
理 lǐ · texture · 11 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Related words
Words that share a character with 处理.
| 到处 | dàochù | everywhere |
| 好处 | hǎochù | easy to get along with |
| 道理 | dàolǐ | reason; argument |
| 经理 | jīnglǐ | manager; director |
| 理想 | lǐxiǎng | an ideal; a dream |
| 坏处 | huàichù | harm; troubles |
| 理解 | lǐjiě | to comprehend; to understand |
| 理由 | lǐyóu | reason; grounds |
| 理论 | lǐlùn | theory; to argue |
| 管理 | guǎnlǐ | to supervise; to manage |
| 整理 | zhěnglǐ | to arrange; to tidy up |
| 合理 | hélǐ | rational; reasonable; sensible; fair |
Questions about 处理
What does 处理 mean?
处理 (chǔlǐ) means "to handle; to deal with; to punish" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 处理?
处理 is made of 2 characters: 处 (5 strokes), 理 (11 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 处理 an HSK word?
Yes. 处理 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 处理 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 处理 is written 處理.
What is the difference between 处理 and 解决?
处理 (chǔlǐ) means to handle or deal with something, whatever the result. 解决 (jiějué) means to solve it so the problem is gone. You can 处理 a problem without fully 解决 it.
What does 处理 mean on a sign in a shop?
Signs like 处理品 (chǔlǐpǐn) or 低价处理 (dījià chǔlǐ) mean the goods are on clearance at reduced prices. It often refers to old stock or slightly damaged items.