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侣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
侣
lǚ
companion
zg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #21538, Very Hard
侣
lǚ
companion; associate with
zg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #21538, Very Hard
侣
lǚ
companion
zg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #21538, Very Hard
侣
lǚ
companion; associate with
zg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #21538, Very Hard
lǚ(lv3)lv
primary
T3
1companion
2companion; associate with
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March 24, 2026
侣(侶)lǚ(lv3)
The character 侣 (lǚ) primarily means 'companion' or 'partner.' It is often used in contexts related to relationships, friendships, or companionship, emphasizing a sense of togetherness. This character can also imply an association with someone in a social or emotional sense.
Strokes8Radical亻Frequency#21538DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of companionship extends beyond romantic partners to include close friends and family members, reflecting the importance of social bonds. The term 伴侣 (bànlǚ) is commonly used to refer to life partners in a marriage context.
Memory tip
Imagine a pair of shoes (the left shoe and the right shoe) that are always together, just like companions. The character 侣 has the radical for 'person' (亻), suggesting a focus on human relationships, and it sounds like 'lǚ,' which you can remember as 'loyal,' hinting at a faithful companion.
Meanings of 侣
lǚ(lv3)
primary
1companion
2companion; associate with
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 侣 means.
About 侣
侣Simplified
侶Traditional
8Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#21538Frequency Rank
Podcast: 侣
Podcast: 侣
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AI study notes for 侣
Quick Contrast
伴 (bàn) - use 侣 (lǚ) when emphasizing a deeper emotional connection, whereas 伴 (bàn) can suggest a more casual or functional partnership.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 侣 with similar-sounding words; it specifically refers to companionship rather than other types of relationships. In formal contexts, it may be more appropriate to use 伴侣 (bànlǚ) for 'partner' in romantic relationships. Common collocations include 伴侣 (bànlǚ) meaning 'life partner' or 'companion.'
HSK Study Tips
While 侣 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial for learners focusing on relationships and social vocabulary. Students at this level should also study related terms like 伴 (bàn) to deepen their understanding of companionship.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 侣 as a standalone term for romantic partners, while the more common term is 伴侣 (bànlǚ). Additionally, some may confuse it with 侣 (lǚ) and 旅 (lǚ), which means 'travel,' leading to incorrect meanings in context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 侣
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Knowing 侣 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
侣 = 亻 + 吕. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 侣
IDS Structure⿰亻吕
侣Full character
=
亻ren2
left
吕lü3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 侣?
How to say companion in Chinese
“companion” in Chinese is侣lǚ
The character 侣 (lǚ) primarily means 'companion' or 'partner.' It is often used in contexts related to relationships, friendships, or companionship, emphasizing a sense of togetherness. This character can also imply an association with someone in a social or emotional sense.
When to use 侣
Be careful not to confuse 侣 with similar-sounding words; it specifically refers to companionship rather than other types of relationships. In formal contexts, it may be more appropriate to use 伴侣 (bànlǚ) for 'partner' in romantic relationships. Common collocations include 伴侣 (bànlǚ) meaning 'life partner' or 'companion.'
侣 or something close to it
伴 (bàn) - use 侣 (lǚ) when emphasizing a deeper emotional connection, whereas 伴 (bàn) can suggest a more casual or functional partnership.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 侣 as a standalone term for romantic partners, while the more common term is 伴侣 (bànlǚ). Additionally, some may confuse it with 侣 (lǚ) and 旅 (lǚ), which means 'travel,' leading to incorrect meanings in context.
Write 侣
侣
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Practice writing 侣 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 侣
侣 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我的猫古斯塔夫是我所有的一切——我唯一的伴____。
My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had—the only company.
Example sentences for 侣 (10)
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1
我的猫古斯塔夫是我所有的一切——我唯一的伴侣。
wǒ de māo gǔ Sī tǎ fū shì wǒ suǒyǒu de yíqiè—— wǒ wéiyī de bànlǚ。
My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had—the only company.
2
奇怪的是，那些不相配的伴侣实际上却彼此需要。
qíguài de shì， nàxiē bù Xiāng pèi de bànlǚ shíjìshàng què bǐcǐ xūyào。
In some perverse way the ill-matched partners do actually need each other.
3
这对伴侣年龄上的差异招来了不少闲话。
zhè duì bànlǚ niánlíng shàng de chāyì zhāo lái le bùshǎo xiánhuà。
What set tongues wagging was the age difference between the two partners.
4
他具有我要找的伴侣应该具备的所有品质。
tā jùyǒu wǒ yào zhǎo de bànlǚ yīnggāi jùbèi de suǒyǒu pǐnzhì。
He had all the qualities I was looking for in a partner.
One in eight women lives in an abusive relationship.
6
他们迅速否认了两人在现实生活中是情侣关系的传言。
tāmen xùnsù fǒurèn le liǎng rén zài xiànshí shēnghuó zhōng shì qínglǚ guānxì de chuányán。
They were quick to dismiss rumours of an off-screen romance.
7
这对情侣已经同居了16年。
zhè duì qínglǚ yǐjīng tóng jī le16 nián。
The couple had been living together for 16 years.
8
他们拒绝把公寓租给未婚情侣。
tāmen jùjué bǎ gōngyù zū gěi wèi hūn qínglǚ。
They refused to rent an apartment to an unmarried couple.
9
她走进屋时撞见这对情侣，搞得两人赶紧分开，后来又面带窘色地走下楼来。
tā zǒujìn wū shí zhuàng jiàn zhè duì qínglǚ， gǎo de liǎng rén gǎnjǐn fēnkāi， hòulái yòu miàn dài jiǒng sè dì zǒu xiàlóu lái。
The couple leapt apart when she walked in on them and later came downstairs looking sheepish.
10
他对僧侣们颇有微词，认为他们思想偏狭，自视清高。
tā duì sēnglǚ men Pō yǒu Wēi cí， rènwéi tāmen sīxiǎng piān xiá， zì shì qīng gāo。
He is critical of the monks, whom he considers narrow-minded and self-righteous.
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Cultural Notes for 侣
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the term 'companion' often implies a romantic partner, while in Chinese, it can refer to a broader range of relationships including friends and family.
Word Family of 侣
Words containing this character5
情侣qínglǚlovers情侶
伴侣bànlǚmate伴侶
侣lǚcompanion侶
僧侣sēnglǚmonk僧侶
爱侣àilǚlovers愛侶
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 侣
What does 情侣 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 侣
You can say '我们是好侣' (Wǒmen shì hǎo lǚ) meaning 'We are good companions.'
Yes, while it can be used informally, it's often better to use 伴侣 in formal situations.
Related terms include 伴 (bàn), which means 'to accompany,' and 伴侣 (bànlǚ), meaning 'partner.'
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