Learn a Chinese Character - 李

1. Character Basics

Radical: 木 (wood radical)

Stroke Count: 7

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lǐ (Third tone)

3. Meaning

Plum; plum tree; Lee (a common Chinese surname); Li (one of the most common Chinese family names); plum fruit; Chinese plum; Prunus salicina; plum blossom

4. Common Words

• 李子 (lǐzi) - plum (fruit); Chinese plum
• 李树 (lǐshù) - plum tree
• 姓李 (xìng Lǐ) - to have the surname Lee/Li
• 李白 (Lǐ Bái) - Li Bai (famous Tang Dynasty poet)
• 李商隐 (Lǐ Shāngyǐn) - Li Shangyin (famous Tang Dynasty poet)
• 李子园 (lǐzi yuán) - plum orchard
• 李子酒 (lǐzi jiǔ) - plum wine
• 桃李 (táolǐ) - peaches and plums; students (metaphorically, as in "桃李满天下")

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "李" has two primary uses in Chinese: to refer to plum trees and plums, and as a common surname.

Grammar Patterns:

• As a noun referring to fruit/plant: 李 + 子/树/园/酒 (e.g., 李子 (plum), 李树 (plum tree), 李子园 (plum orchard), 李子酒 (plum wine))
• As a surname: 李 (Li/Lee) can stand alone as a surname, or be combined with given names (e.g., 李白 (Li Bai), 李商隐 (Li Shangyin))
• In idiomatic expressions: "桃李满天下" (táolǐ mǎn tiānxià) - to have students all over the country (metaphor for a teacher's success)
• Can be used in botanical and agricultural contexts referring to plum varieties

6. Cultural Background

The character "李" has rich cultural significance in Chinese history and society, both as a surname and as a symbol related to plums.

Li (李) is one of the most common and oldest Chinese surnames, with a history dating back over 2,000 years. It is estimated that over 100 million people worldwide bear the surname Li, making it one of the most common surnames globally.

Several Chinese dynasties were founded by the Li family, most notably the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), which is often considered a golden age of Chinese civilization. The Tang Dynasty produced many famous poets with the surname Li, including Li Bai (李白) and Li Shangyin (李商隐), who are still widely read and celebrated today.

In Chinese culture, the plum blossom (梅花, méihuā) is highly regarded as a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and purity, as it blooms beautifully even in harsh winter conditions. While the character for plum blossom is "梅" rather than "李," both are closely related in Chinese cultural symbolism.

The idiom "桃李满天下" (táolǐ mǎn tiānxià) literally means "peaches and plums fill the world" but is used metaphorically to describe a teacher who has educated many students who have gone on to achieve success in various fields.

Plums have also been an important fruit in Chinese cuisine and medicine for centuries, valued for their taste and purported health benefits.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "李" (lǐ) consists of:

• The radical "木" (mù, wood/tree radical) on the left
• The component "子" (zǐ, child/seed radical) on the right

To remember the character, you can think of it as "a tree (木) bearing fruit/seeds (子)," which connects to its meaning of plum tree and plum fruit.

Another mnemonic: The character "李" looks like a tree (木) with a child (子) standing beside it, which can help you remember its structure and stroke order.

Practice writing the character following the stroke order, starting with the horizontal stroke of the "木" radical, then the vertical stroke, followed by the two dots, and finally the "子" component.

Associate the character with famous people who have the surname Li, such as the poet Li Bai, to reinforce its use as a surname.

Remember that the pronunciation is "lǐ" with a third tone, which is a dipping tone in Mandarin Chinese.