理所当然
理所当然 (lǐ suǒ dāng rán) literally means “what reason dictates as natural” and expresses “naturally; as a matter of course”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: li suo dang ran, li suo dang ran,理所当然 meaning, 理所当然 in english
Naturally; as a matter of course
Pronunciation: lǐ suǒ dāng rán
Literal meaning: What reason dictates as natural
Origin & Usage
This idiom combines 'according to reason' (理所) with 'naturally so' (当然) to express what logic and propriety dictate as obvious or appropriate. The concept of 'li' (理) in Neo-Confucian philosophy represents the rational principle underlying all things. The phrase suggests alignment between expectation and cosmic order. It appeared in Song Dynasty philosophical texts discussing moral imperatives. Modern usage can express either genuine natural logic or, sometimes critically, assumptions that may actually warrant questioning.
Examples
English: "It's only natural that hard work leads to success."
Chinese: 努力工作会带来成功，这是理所当然的。
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 理所当然 mean in English?
理所当然 (lǐ suǒ dāng rán) literally translates to “What reason dictates as natural” and is used to express “Naturally; as a matter of course”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 理所当然 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving naturally; as a matter of course.
What is the pinyin for 理所当然?
The pinyin pronunciation for 理所当然 is “lǐ suǒ dāng rán”.