Learn a Chinese Character - 历

1. Character Basics

Radical: 厂 (cliff radical)

Stroke Count: 4

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lì (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Calendar; history; experience; go through; endure; pass through; all previous; past; bygone; former; once; formerly; history; historical; chronological; calendar; almanac; to go through; to experience; to undergo; to endure; to last; to pass

4. Common Words

• 历史 (lìshǐ) - history
• 经历 (jīnglì) - experience; to experience
• 日历 (rìlì) - calendar
• 农历 (nónglì) - lunar calendar
• 历程 (lìchéng) - course; process; journey
• 历年 (lìnián) - over the years; year after year
• 来历 (láilì) - origin; background; history
• 历来 (lìlái) - always; all along; throughout history

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "历" has several important functions in Chinese grammar:

Grammar Patterns:

• As a noun meaning "calendar" or "history": 历 + 史/年/程 (e.g., 历史 (history), 历年 (over the years), 历程 (course))
• In compound nouns referring to various types of calendars: 日/农/阴 + 历 (e.g., 日历 (calendar), 农历 (lunar calendar), 阴历 (lunar calendar))
• As a verb meaning "to go through" or "to experience": 经 + 历 (e.g., 经历 (to experience))
• In time-related expressions: 历 + 时/代 (e.g., 历时 (over a period of time), 历代 (past dynasties))
• As an adjective meaning "all previous" or "past": 历 + 届/次 (e.g., 历届 (previous sessions), 历次 (previous times))

6. Cultural Background

The character "历" holds significant cultural importance in Chinese society, particularly in relation to timekeeping, history, and personal experiences.

In ancient China, the development of calendars (历法, lìfǎ) was of great importance for agricultural planning, religious observances, and governance. The Chinese lunisolar calendar, which combines lunar and solar cycles, has a history dating back thousands of years and continues to be used today for traditional holidays and festivals.

The character "历" is also deeply connected to the Chinese tradition of historical recording. China has one of the world's longest continuous historical records, with official histories compiled for each dynasty. This emphasis on history reflects the cultural value placed on learning from the past to guide the present and future.

In Chinese philosophy, particularly Confucianism, the study of history (史学, shǐxué) was considered essential for moral education and good governance. The phrase "以史为鉴" (yǐ shǐ wéi jiàn - using history as a mirror) encapsulates this belief in learning from past experiences.

On a personal level, the concept of "经历" (jīnglì - experience) is highly valued in Chinese culture, as it is seen as a source of wisdom and character development. Older people are often respected for their life experiences, and the sharing of personal stories is an important part of Chinese social interactions.

The character "历" can be traced back to ancient Chinese script, where it originally depicted a person passing through a gate or crossing a threshold, symbolizing the passage of time and the accumulation of experiences.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "历" (lì) can be remembered by breaking it down into its components:

• The radical "厂" (chǎng, cliff radical) on the left
• The component "力" (lì, power/strength) on the right

To remember the character, you can think of it as "power (力) passing through (or enduring) time (represented by the cliff radical 厂)," which connects to its meanings of history, experience, and passing through time.

Another mnemonic: Visualize the "厂" radical as representing a calendar page or a scroll of history, and the "力" component as representing the enduring nature of time and experiences.

Practice writing the character following the stroke order: start with the horizontal stroke of the "厂" radical, then the撇 (piě, downward-left stroke), followed by the horizontal stroke of the "力" component, and finally the斜钩 (xiégōu, diagonal hook stroke).

Associate the character with common words like "历史" (lìshǐ - history) and "日历" (rìlì - calendar) to reinforce its meanings.

Remember that the pronunciation is "lì" with a fourth tone, which is a high-falling tone in Mandarin Chinese.