按理说

按理說
ànlǐshuō
phrase HSK 7 #24,931

Meanings

  1. 1 logically speaking; in theory
  2. 2 it stands to reason that

Characters

Literally 'according to reason, speaking...' — implies reality may differ from what logic dictates.

Examples

Ànlǐ shuō tā yīnggāi zǎo jiù dào le.
Logically speaking, he should have arrived long ago.
Ànlǐ shuō zhège fāng'àn méiyǒu wèntí.
In theory, there shouldn't be any problem with this plan.

Tips

grammar
按理说 usually sets up a contrast: 'in theory X, but in reality Y.' It signals that what follows is the expected or reasonable outcome, with an implied 'but...' Similar to (zhàolǐ shuō).

Stroke Order

àn
shuō