‘真理’ (zhēn lǐ) literally combines 真 (zhēn), meaning ‘true’, ‘genuine’, or ‘real’, and 理 (lǐ), meaning ‘principle’, ‘reason’, or ‘law’. Together, they form a formal, abstract noun meaning ‘truth’—especially objective, universal, or scientifically verified truth—or ‘fundamental principle’ underlying reality, nature, or human conduct. It carries strong philosophical, scientific, or ideological weight and is rarely used in casual speech.

This term appears frequently in academic, political, and ethical discourse—for example, in discussions about scientific discovery (e.g., ‘the truth of evolution’), moral ideals (e.g., ‘the truth of justice’), or Marxist theory (where ‘seeking truth from facts’ is a key slogan). Unlike colloquial words for ‘truth’ like 实话 (shíhuà, ‘honest words’), 真理 implies enduring validity, not just factual accuracy in a moment.