Chinese Character: 犁
1. Character Basics
Radical: 牛 (cow radical)
Stroke Count: 11
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: lí (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Plow; to plow; plough; farm implement for turning soil; to till the land; agricultural tool; plowing tool; to cultivate land with a plow
4. Common Words
- 犁地 (lídì) - to plow the land; to till the soil
- 犁头 (lítóu) - plowshare; plow head
- 犁田 (lítián) - to plow the field; to till the farmland
- 犁铧 (líhuá) - plowshare; the cutting blade of a plow
- 犁杖 (lízhàng) - plow; plow handle
- 铁犁 (tiělí) - iron plow; metal plow
- 耕犁 (gēnglí) - plow; plowing
- 犁沟 (lígōu) - furrow; plow furrow
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "犁" is primarily used as a noun referring to a plow or as a verb meaning "to plow" or "to till the land."
Grammar Patterns:
- Used as a noun: 铁犁 (tiělí) - iron plow
- Used as a verb meaning "to plow": 犁地 (lídì) - to plow the land
- Used in compound nouns related to agriculture: 犁头 (plowshare), 犁铧 (plow blade)
- Used in set phrases: 犁庭扫穴 (lí tíng sǎo xué) - to plow the courtyard and sweep the cave (metaphorically: to completely defeat an enemy)
- Used in sentences describing agricultural activities: 农民春天犁地 (Nóngmín chūntiān lídì) - Farmers plow the land in spring
6. Cultural Background
The character "犁" holds significant cultural importance in Chinese agricultural society, where plowing has been fundamental to survival and civilization for thousands of years.
In ancient Chinese culture, the plow was considered one of the most important agricultural tools. The invention and improvement of plows played a crucial role in the development of Chinese civilization and its agricultural productivity.
The Chinese character "犁" itself reflects this agricultural heritage, combining the radical "牛" (cow) with other components, indicating the traditional use of oxen to pull plows in farming.
Throughout Chinese history, plowing rituals were performed to ensure good harvests and honor the agricultural deities. Even today, in some rural areas of China, traditional plowing methods are still practiced, although modern machinery has largely replaced ox-drawn plows.
The idiom "犁庭扫穴" (lí tíng sǎo xué), though originally referring to plowing and cleaning, has evolved to mean completely defeating an enemy or rooting out a problem.
Plowing is also celebrated in Chinese art and literature, symbolizing hard work, perseverance, and the cycle of life.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 春天到了，农民们开始用犁耕地，准备播种。
Pinyin: Chūntiān dào le, nóngmínmen kāishǐ yòng lí gēngdì, zhǔnbèi bōzhǒng.
English: Spring has arrived, and farmers have started plowing the land with plows, preparing to plant seeds.
8. Memory Tips
The character "犁" (lí) consists of:
- The radical "牛" (niú, cow) on the left
- The component "利" (lì, sharp; advantage; profit) on the right
To remember the character, think of it as "a cow with a sharp tool for plowing the land" or "a cow that helps with profitable farming."
Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help with memorization.
Associate the character with agricultural activities and tools, such as "犁地" (to plow the land) and "铁犁" (iron plow).
Remember that the radical "牛" (cow) is often used in characters related to animals or agriculture.