gé wù
to study the underlying principles, esp. in neo-Confucian rational learning 理學|理学[li3 xue2]
word for Western natural sciences during late Qing
gé wù zhì zhī
to study the underlying principle to acquire knowledge (idiom); pursuing knowledge to the end
gé wù zhì zhī
to study the underlying principle to acquire knowledge (idiom); pursuing knowledge to the end