Learn a Chinese Character - 刘

1. Character Basics

Radical: 刂 (dāo, knife radical)

Stroke Count: 6

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: liú (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Liu; a common Chinese surname; to kill; to destroy (archaic meaning)

4. Common Words

• 刘邦 (Liú Bāng) - Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty
• 刘备 (Liú Bèi) - Liu Bei, a warlord in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and founder of the Shu Han
• 刘家 (Liújiā) - The Liu family
• 刘姓 (Liúxìng) - The surname Liu
• 刘三姐 (Liú Sānjiě) - Liu Sanjie, a legendary folk singer in Guangxi
• 刘伯承 (Liú Bóchéng) - Liu Bocheng, a famous Chinese military commander
• 刘海 (Liúhǎi) - Liu Hai, a traditional Chinese mythological figure; also refers to bangs (hairstyle)
• 刘墉 (Liú Yōng) - Liu Yong, a famous Qing Dynasty official and calligrapher

5. Grammar & Usage

As a proper noun: Primarily used as a surname, one of the most common surnames in China. Historically, it was also used as a verb meaning "to kill" or "to destroy", but this usage is now archaic and rarely seen in modern Chinese.

6. Cultural Background

The surname Liu is one of the most ancient and common surnames in China, with a history of over 4,000 years. It is associated with several imperial dynasties, most notably the Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 220 CE), founded by Liu Bang. The Han Dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history, and the majority ethnic group in China, the Han people, takes its name from this dynasty. Today, Liu remains one of the top surnames in China and among overseas Chinese communities.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 刘 has 6 strokes. It consists of 文 (wén, literature) and 刂 (dāo, knife). You can remember it by associating it with the historical significance of the Liu surname, which has been prominent in Chinese culture for thousands of years.