格物

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

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

thing / object / matter / abbr. for physics 物理

to study the underlying principle to acquire knowledge (idiom); pursuing knowledge to the end