Chinese Character: 丽
1. Character Basics
Radical: 一 (one radical) or 丽 (self-radical)
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: lì (Fourth tone) or lí (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Beautiful; pretty; gorgeous; magnificent; elegant; splendid; attractive; lovely; charming; graceful; fine; exquisite
4. Common Words
- 美丽 (měilì) - beautiful; pretty
- 华丽 (huálì) - magnificent; gorgeous; resplendent
- 亮丽 (liànglì) - bright and beautiful; radiant
- 壮丽 (zhuànglì) - majestic; grand; magnificent
- 秀丽 (xiùlì) - beautiful; pretty; elegant
- 丽人 (lìrén) - beautiful woman; beauty
- 丽江 (Lìjiāng) - Lijiang (a famous tourist city in Yunnan Province, China)
- 风和日丽 (fēnghérìlì) - fine and warm (weather); sunny and mild
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "丽" is primarily used as an adjective meaning "beautiful" or "magnificent". It is often combined with other characters to form compound adjectives describing various aspects of beauty.
Grammar Patterns:
- 形 + 丽: 美丽 (beautiful), 华丽 (gorgeous)
- 丽 + 名: 丽人 (beautiful woman), 丽景 (beautiful scenery)
- 四字成语: 风和日丽 (fine weather), 绚丽多彩 (bright and colorful), 富丽堂皇 (magnificent and sumptuous)
- Note: When pronounced as "lí", it is mostly used in proper nouns like "丽水" (Lishui, a city in Zhejiang Province) and "高丽" (Goryeo, an ancient Korean kingdom)
6. Cultural Background
The character "丽" has a rich cultural significance in Chinese society, closely related to aesthetic values and appreciation of beauty.
In traditional Chinese culture, "丽" was often used to describe natural beauty, human appearance, and artistic works. It reflects the Chinese people's pursuit of harmony and beauty in various aspects of life.
The city of "丽江" (Lijiang) in Yunnan Province, whose name includes the character "丽", is famous for its beautiful scenery and rich cultural heritage, being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Many Chinese idioms and literary expressions use "丽" to convey beauty, such as "风和日丽" (fine weather) and "天生丽质" (natural beauty).
In Chinese calligraphy and painting, the aesthetic connotations of "丽" are often expressed through elegant lines, harmonious colors, and balanced compositions.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 春天的公园景色美丽极了，到处都是盛开的花朵。
Pinyin: Chūntiān de gōngyuán jǐngsè měilì jíle, dàochù dōu shì shèngkāi de huāduǒ.
English: The park in spring is extremely beautiful, with blooming flowers everywhere.
8. Memory Tips
The character "丽" (lì) consists of two main parts: the upper part and the lower part, which together convey the idea of beauty.
To remember the character:
- Notice that the character has 7 strokes, which can be associated with the seven colors of the rainbow, symbolizing beauty and diversity
- Visualize the character as two connected parts that form a balanced and harmonious shape, reflecting its meaning of beauty
- Associate the character with common words like "美丽" (beautiful) and places like "丽江" (Lijiang) to reinforce its meaning and usage
- Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help with memorization
- Remember the two different pronunciations: "lì" (most common meaning "beautiful") and "lí" (mainly used in proper nouns)