办理 (bàn lǐ) is a formal, transitive verb meaning 'to handle' or 'to process' — especially official, administrative, or procedural tasks. It combines 办 (bàn), which means 'to do' or 'to manage', and 理 (lǐ), which means 'to manage', 'to organize', or 'to deal with'. Together, they emphasize the careful, systematic execution of formal duties — such as applying for documents, settling procedures, or completing bureaucratic steps.

This word is commonly used in government offices, banks, schools, and service centers. It rarely appears in casual speech; native speakers typically use simpler verbs like 做 (zuò) or 处理 (chǔlǐ) in informal contexts. 办理 usually takes a direct object naming the task or document being processed (e.g., 办理签证, 办理手续). It implies responsibility, procedure, and completion — not just starting an action, but seeing it through to official resolution.