Correct

里 vs 里边 vs 里面 vs 里头(近义词)

/ Lǐ yus lǐbian yus lǐmiàn yus lǐtou /
Strokes

Definition

in/inside,in/ inside,in/inside,in

Example

用法1
1)All the four nouns mean"within a certain space or time".里 is an agglutinative word and the other three are free words.里 is the most commonly used,里面 is a bit literary,and 里头 is the most colloquial.
2)In examples①and②,used after nouns of place or time,the four words are interchangeable.
3)In example③里 cannot be used,because it is an agglutinative word.In④里边,etc.function independently as the subject,indicating 里边 of the refrigerator,cupboard,kitchen,etc.which the speaker already knows and 里 cannot be used.
4)Sometimes 里边,etc.indicate a certain unit,or personage:
5)In examples⑤and⑥里 cannot be used.
6)But 这 or 那 can take 里 or 里边,etc.(这里 and 那里 are already words):
1
tīng
大厅
  
(
  
/
bian
里边
  
/
miàn
里面
  
/
tou
里头
  
)
dēnghuǒ
灯火
tōngmíng
通明
  

The hall is bright-lylit.

2
Zhè
这笔
qián
  
,
men
我们
dìng
一定
yào
zài
yuè
  
(
  
/
bian
里边
  
/
miàn
里面
  
/
tou
里头
  
)
háigěi
还给
duìfāng
对方
  

We should pay the money back in a month.

3
Xiǎo
shùlín
树林
wàimiàn
外面
dōu
sǎo
guò
le
  
,
zài
dào
bian
里边
  
(
  
/
miàn
里面
  
/
tou
里头
  
)
sǎo
sǎo
  

I have swept the ground outside the grove.Please sweep that inside it.