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物理 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
物理wùlǐphysicsHSK 5, n, 19 strokes, rank #5036, Hard
物理wùlǐphysicalHSK 5, n, 19 strokes, rank #5036, Hard
wùlǐ(wu4li3)wu li T4
  1. 1physics
  2. 2physical
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March 24, 2026

物理wùlǐ(wu4li3)

物理 (wù lǐ) refers to the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy, encompassing concepts such as force, motion, and heat. It is commonly used in academic contexts, particularly in discussions related to science and engineering. The term can also imply a broader understanding of physical phenomena in everyday life.

Strokes19Frequency#5036DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, physics education is highly emphasized in schools, and students often participate in rigorous science competitions, reflecting the cultural value placed on academic achievement in the sciences.

Memory Tip

Think of 物 (wù) as 'thing' or 'matter' and 理 (lǐ) as 'principle' or 'logic'. Imagine a scientist examining the 'things' of the universe to uncover their 'principles', which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation of 物理.

Meanings of 物理

wùlǐ(wu4li3)
1physics
2physical
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 物理

物理Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5036Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5HSKKL3CEFRB2

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AI Study Notes for 物理

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 物理 with other scientific terms like 化学 (huàxué), which means chemistry. This term is more formal, so it's best used in academic or professional settings rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 物理学 (wùlǐxué - physics as a field of study) and 物理现象 (wùlǐ xiànxiàng - physical phenomena).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 物理 connects well with other science-related vocabulary such as 科学 (kēxué - science) and 技术 (jìshù - technology). Students should focus on understanding how it relates to scientific discussions and its usage in educational contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 物理 incorrectly in casual contexts, saying things like '我学物理在家' (I study physics at home) when a more appropriate phrase would be '我在家自学物理' (I self-study physics at home). Additionally, some may confuse it with similar-sounding terms, leading to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 物理

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Component Characters

物wùthing
HSK 28 strokes牛
View full entry
理lǐtexture
HSK 611 strokes王
View full entry

How to say physics in Chinese

“physics” in Chinese is物理wùlǐ

物理 (wù lǐ) refers to the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy, encompassing concepts such as force, motion, and heat. It is commonly used in academic contexts, particularly in discussions related to science and engineering. The term can also imply a broader understanding of physical phenomena in everyday life.

When to use 物理

Be careful not to confuse 物理 with other scientific terms like 化学 (huàxué), which means chemistry. This term is more formal, so it's best used in academic or professional settings rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 物理学 (wùlǐxué - physics as a field of study) and 物理现象 (wùlǐ xiànxiàng - physical phenomena).

What learners get wrong

Learners often use 物理 incorrectly in casual contexts, saying things like '我学物理在家' (I study physics at home) when a more appropriate phrase would be '我在家自学物理' (I self-study physics at home). Additionally, some may confuse it with similar-sounding terms, leading to misunderstandings.

Write 物理

物
理

Practice writing 物理 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 物理

物理 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

____学并非只是一门不能直接运用的纯科学。

Physics isn't just about pure science with no immediate applications.

Example Sentences for 物理 (10)

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1
物理学并非只是一门不能直接运用的纯科学。

wù lǐ xué bìng fēi zhī shì yī mén bù néng zhí jiē yùn yòng de chún kē xué。

Physics isn't just about pure science with no immediate applications.
2
他于1985年被授予诺贝尔物理学奖。

tā yú1985 1985 nián bèi shòu yú nuò bèi ěr wù lǐ xué。

He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in
3
在人类历史的部分时期中, 数学与物理学几乎始终是不可分地联系在一起的.

zài rén lèi lì shǐ de bù fēn shí qī zhōng, , shù xué yǔ wù lǐ xué jī hū shǐ zhōng shì bù kě fēn dì lián xì zài yī qǐ.

Throughout most of human history, mathematics and physics have been inseparably joined.
4
总而言之，这是一本通俗而务实的物理入门书。

zǒng ér yán zhī， ， zhè shì yī běn tōng sú ér wù shí de wù lǐ rù mén。

On balance, the book is a friendly, down-to-earth introduction to physics.
5
这本物理学著作探讨了新的课题.

zhè běn wù lǐ xué zhù zuò tàn tǎo le xīn de kè tí.

This physics book breaks fresh ground.
6
有些课程, 比如数学 、 物理和英语, 本系学生都是必修的.

yǒu xiē kè chéng, , bǐ rú shù、 xué 、 wù lǐ hé, yīng yǔ , běn xì xué shēng dū shì.

Some subjects, such as mathematice, physics and English, are compulsory for the students in this department.
7
我不想像平时那样啃那些数学题和物理题.

wǒ bù xiǎng xiàng píng shí nà yàng kěn nà xiē shù xué tí hé wù lǐ tí.

I don't feel like working on those maths and physics problems at home as usual.
8
十年前他在大学教物理.

shí nián qián tā zài dà xué jiào wù lǐ.

He taught physics to the students at a college ten years ago.
9
物理学由惠勒教授教.

wù lǐ xué yóu huì lè jiào shòu jiào.

Physics is taught by Professor Wheeler.
10
她觉得她的数学课和物理课的知识还很欠缺.

tā jué dé tā de shù xué kè hé wù lǐ kè de zhī shí huán hěn qiàn quē.

She found great chasms in her mathematics and physics.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 物理

物理 specifically refers to physics, while 科学 is a broader term that encompasses all sciences.

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