Learn a Chinese Character - 黎

1. Character Basics

Radical: 黍 (millet radical)

Stroke Count: 15

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lí (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Many; numerous; the Li ethnic group; dawn; daybreak; black; dark; ancient Chinese surname; old term for the Li nationality in southern China; multi-; multi-colored; rich

4. Common Words

• 黎明 (límíng) - dawn; daybreak; the first light of day
• 黎族 (Lízú) - the Li ethnic group; Li nationality (an ethnic minority in China)
• 黎民 (límín) - the common people; the masses; the populace
• 黎黑 (líhēi) - pitch-black; dark; swarthy
• 黎庶 (líshù) - the common people; the masses (literary)
• 巴黎 (Bālí) - Paris (capital of France)
• 黎元洪 (Lí Yuánhóng) - Li Yuanhong (name of a historical figure)
• 黎曼 (Límàn) - Riemann (German mathematician)

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "黎" has multiple usages in Chinese:

Grammar Patterns:

• As an adjective: 黎 + 明/黑 (e.g., 黎明 (dawn), 黎黑 (dark))
• As a noun: 黎 + 族/民/庶 (e.g., 黎族 (Li ethnic group), 黎民 (common people))
• In proper nouns: 巴 + 黎 (Paris), 黎 + 元洪/曼 (personal names)
• In literary expressions to refer to the people or the masses
• Can be used as a surname in Chinese

6. Cultural Background

The character "黎" has rich cultural connotations in Chinese history and society.

In ancient Chinese texts, "黎民" (límín) referred to the common people or the masses. This term was widely used in classical literature and philosophical works to denote the general population.

The Li ethnic group (黎族) is one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. They primarily reside in Hainan Province, and have their own unique culture, language, and traditions. The Li people have a long history of rice cultivation, weaving, and folk art.

In Chinese culture, "黎明" (dawn) is often used metaphorically to represent new beginnings, hope, and the start of a new era. It's a common symbol in poetry and literature for renewal and optimism.

The character "黎" also appears in various historical and cultural contexts, including place names, personal names, and literary works. For example, Paris is transliterated as "巴黎" (Bālí) in Chinese.

In traditional Chinese cosmology, the concept of "黎明" (dawn) has philosophical significance, representing the transition from darkness to light, ignorance to knowledge, or困难 to success.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "黎" (lí) consists of:

• The radical "黍" (shǔ, millet radical) at the top
• The component "氺" (water radical variant) at the bottom

To remember the character, you can think of it as "millet (黍) growing near water (氺)." This association helps recall both the structure and the meaning related to agriculture and people.

Another mnemonic: Since "黎" often relates to "many" or "numerous," imagine a field of millet plants (黍) with many grains growing near water (氺).

Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help with memorization. Focus on getting the proportions right between the top and bottom parts.

Associate the character with common words like "黎明" (dawn) to reinforce its meaning and usage in context.