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
Dàtīng
大厅
lǐ
里
  
(
  
/
lǐbian
里边
  
/
lǐmiàn
里面
  
/
lǐtou
里头
  
)
dēnghuǒ
灯火
tōngmíng
通明
  
。

The hall is bright-lylit.

2
Zhèbǐ
这笔
qián
钱
  
,
wǒmen
我们
yīdìng
一定
yào
要
zài
在
yī
一
gè
个
yuè
月
lǐ
里
  
(
  
/
lǐbian
里边
  
/
lǐmiàn
里面
  
/
lǐtou
里头
  
)
háigěi
还给
duìfāng
对方
  
。

We should pay the money back in a month.

3
Xiǎo
小
shùlín
树林
wàimiàn
外面
wǒ
我
dōu
都
sǎo
扫
guò
过
le
了
  
,
nǐ
你
zài
再
dào
到
lǐbian
里边
  
(
  
/
lǐmiàn
里面
  
/
lǐtou
里头
  
)
sǎo
扫
yī
一
sǎo
扫
  
。

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