| 格物致知 |
gé wù zhì zhī |
to study the underlying principle to acquire knowledge (idiom); pursuing knowledge to the end |
| 格 |
gé |
square / frame / rule / (legal) case / style / character / standard / pattern / (grammar) case / (classical) to obstruct / to hinder / (classical) to arrive / to come / (classical) to investigate / to study exhaustively |
| 格物 |
gé wù |
to study the underlying principles, esp. in neo-Confucian rational learning 理学 / word for Western natural sciences during late Qing |
| 物 |
wù |
(bound form) thing / (literary) the outside world as distinct from oneself; people other than oneself |
| 致 |
zhì |
(bound form) fine; delicate; exquisite |
| 致 |
zhì |
(literary) to send; to transmit; to convey / (bound form) to cause; to lead to; consequently |
| 知 |
zhī |
to know / to be aware |