处理 (chǔlǐ) is a versatile verb meaning 'to handle' or 'to deal with' a situation, task, problem, or object. It combines 处 (chǔ), which means 'to be in a position' or 'to manage', and 理 (lǐ), which means 'to organize', 'to reason', or 'to manage'. Together, they convey the idea of taking practical action to resolve, manage, or process something—whether it’s paperwork, an emotional conflict, technical data, or even food waste.

This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts: at work (e.g., processing documents), in daily life (e.g., handling household chores), and in technical or administrative settings (e.g., data processing). It often appears with objects like 问题 (wèntí, 'problem'), 文件 (wénjiàn, 'document'), or 垃圾 (lājī, 'garbage'). Unlike more casual verbs like 解决 (jiějué, 'to solve'), 处理 emphasizes the process or method of management—not necessarily a final resolution.