n.
The inner part or lining of a garment or object. Inside, in, within; at a place or time.
里
Common Usage & Traps
- 家里 — at home; inside the home
- 学校里 — in/at school; inside the school
- 手里 — in one's hand
- 桌子里 — inside the desk/drawer
- 一年里 — within a year
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在里家在家里English puts 'in' before 'home', but Chinese puts 里 after 家.
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里学校学校里Learners treat 里 as a word that goes before the noun, but it follows the noun.
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钱在我手钱在我手里When 手 is a location, it needs 里 to mean inside your hand.
Why do Chinese people say 在家里 but not 在里家?
里 comes after the noun, like a sticker slapped on the back.
Chinese place words work like address labels. You name the box first, then say 里 to mean inside it. So 家 comes before 里, and 在 comes before the whole place phrase. 在里家 breaks the order and sounds like English wearing Chinese clothes.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Word order | 在家里 | 在里家 |
| Meaning | at home | English-style 'in home' |
| Pattern | noun + 里 | 里 + noun |
Why is a book 桌子上, but money 桌子里?
上 is for surfaces, 里 is for containers.
Picture a desk as a surface and a container. A book sits on top, so 桌子上. Money goes inside the drawer, so 桌子里. English 'in' and 'on' can be messy, but Chinese usually follows the container rule.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Book on desk | 书在桌子上 | 书在桌子里 |
| Money in drawer | 钱在桌子里 | 钱在桌子上 |
Can you drop 里 in 我在家?
里 is often optional after 家 or 学校, but not after 手.
After 家 and 学校, 里 often just adds an inside-the-building flavor. 我在家 and 我在家里 both work. But with 手, you need 里 if you mean in your hand. 钱在我手里 is natural; 钱在我手 sounds broken.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Home (optional 里) | 我在家 | 我在里家 |
| Hand (required 里) | 钱在我手里 | 钱在我手 |
Can 里 mean 'within' in 一年里?
Yes, 里 can mean 'within' a stretch of time.
里 can mark a period and mean within or during. 一年里 means within a year, and 三个月里 means within three months. Do not use it for exact clock time like 三点里. That sounds wrong.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Within a year | 一年里 | 一年上 |
| Within three months | 三个月里 | 三个月上 |
| At three o'clock | 三点 | 三点里 |
Appears in Stories 9 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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小李住在美国西部的一座城市 里 。
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科学家说，受影响的不只是森林 里 的动物和植物，还有附近的城市。
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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常大中在一个饭店 里 工作。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
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到了学校，儿子看了看，学校 里 真的一个人也没有。
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
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饭店 里 有一个老先生。
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面条 里 有一个鸡蛋。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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那种笑是绷着的，嘴角拉平，眼睛 里 一点儿温度也没有，也不是冷冷的，就是那种空空的感觉。
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旁边他公司的一位副总赶紧抓起公筷，夹了一块儿和牛放到他碟子 里 。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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这就是为什么方便面 里 都有一个小盐包。
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所以，说方便面 里 盐太多，也是误会。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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A：你在学校 里 学习中文吗？
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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白天明住在中国的一个大学 里 。
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白天明天天在学校 里 找大白猫。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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元真告诉胡之适说，他的鼻子 里 也长了一个差不多的东西。
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