Learn a Chinese Character - 勒

1. Character Basics

Radical: 革 (leather radical)

Stroke Count: 11

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lè (Fourth tone) and lēi (First tone) - multiple pronunciations

3. Meaning

To rein in; to tighten; to constrain; to force; to coerce; to engrave; to carve; to勒紧 (tighten); to勒索 (extort)

4. Common Words

• 勒索 (lèsuǒ) - to extort; to blackmail
• 勒令 (lèlìng) - to order; to command; to force
• 勒紧 (lēijǐn) - to tighten; to cinch up
• 勾勒 (gōulè) - to outline; to sketch; to depict
• 勒马 (lèmǎ) - to rein in a horse; to stop short
• 勒死 (lēsǐ) - to strangle to death
• 勒石 (lèshí) - to engrave on stone; to inscribe
• 勒逼 (lèbī) - to force; to coerce; to press

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "勒" has two main pronunciations with distinct uses:

• lè (Fourth tone): Used in abstract or metaphorical contexts, such as extorting, ordering, outlining, or engraving
• lēi (First tone): Used in concrete physical actions, such as tightening or strangling

Grammar Patterns:

• 勒 + 索/令/石/逼: 勒索 (extort), 勒令 (order), 勒石 (engrave on stone), 勒逼 (force)
• 勾 + 勒: 勾勒 (outline)
• 勒 + 马: 勒马 (rein in a horse)
• 勒紧 + [noun]: 勒紧腰带 (tighten one's belt)
• 作为动词: 他被勒死了 (He was strangled to death)

6. Cultural Background

The character "勒" has several cultural associations in Chinese history and tradition:

In ancient China, "勒石" (engraving on stone) was an important way to record historical events, imperial edicts, and literary works. Many famous stone inscriptions from different dynasties have been preserved as important cultural relics.

The phrase "悬崖勒马" (xuán yá lè mǎ) literally means "to rein in a horse at the edge of a cliff" and is used metaphorically to mean "to stop before it's too late" or "to mend one's ways before serious consequences occur."

The character's radical "革" (leather) reflects its original association with leather straps used for reins, which connects to its meaning of controlling or restraining.

In traditional Chinese art, "勾勒" (outlining) is an essential technique in painting, especially in ink and wash painting, where artists use fine lines to define shapes and forms.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "勒" (lè/lēi) can be remembered by breaking it down into its components:

• The left part is "革" (leather radical), which relates to its original meaning connected to leather straps or reins
• The right part consists of "力" (power) and "口" (mouth), but together they form a component that helps with pronunciation

To remember the character, think of it as "using leather (革) and force (力) to control or restrain something," which relates to its core meaning of tightening or constraining.

Remember the two different pronunciations and their uses:

• lè: For abstract actions like extorting, ordering, or outlining
• lēi: For physical actions like tightening or strangling

Associate the character with common words like "勒索" (extort) and "勒紧" (tighten) to reinforce its meaning and usage.