HSK 3, unknown, 4 strokes, radical 厂, rank #12608, Hard
历
lì
old variant of 歷|历[li4]
HSK 3, unknown, 4 strokes, radical 厂, rank #12608, Hard
lì(li4) T4
1old variant of 曆
2>历[lì]
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March 24, 2026
历(厤)lì(li4)
The character 历 (lì) primarily refers to a calendar or the passage of time, often associated with historical events or experiences. It can imply the process of undergoing events or experiences in life, emphasizing the continuity of history and personal experiences.
Strokes4Radical厂Frequency#12608DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 历 is deeply intertwined with the importance of historical records and the cyclical nature of time, as seen in traditional calendars that guide agricultural and cultural practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a historical record (历) as a scroll unfurling through time. The character has the radical for 'earth' (土), suggesting that history is built upon the foundations of the earth, while the '力' component hints at the strength required to endure through experiences.
Meanings of 历
lì(li4)
1calendar
2to experience
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 历
历Simplified
厤Traditional
4Strokes
厂Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#12608Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 历
Podcast: 历
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AI Study Notes for 历
Quick Contrast
历 (lì) vs 史 (shǐ) — use 历 when referring to the passage of time or personal experiences, while 史 focuses specifically on history as a field of study.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a historical record (历) as a scroll unfurling through time. The character has the radical for 'earth' (土), suggesting that history is built upon the foundations of the earth, while the '力' component hints at the strength required to endure through experiences.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 历 (lì) with related characters like 历史 (lìshǐ), which means 'history.' It is often used in both formal contexts, like historical studies, and informal contexts, like sharing personal stories. Pay attention to the tone; the correct pronunciation is 'lì,' not 'li4.'
HSK Study Tips
While 历 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it's beneficial for learners to connect it to similar characters like 历史 (history) and 经验 (experience). Focus on understanding its uses in both historical and experiential contexts to enrich vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 历 is deeply intertwined with the importance of historical records and the cyclical nature of time, as seen in traditional calendars that guide agricultural and cultural practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 历 (lì) with similar-sounding words or characters, such as 立 (lì, to stand) or 利 (lì, benefit). For instance, saying '我立过很多事情' instead of '我经历过很多事情' (I have undergone many experiences) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 历
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Simplified form of 歷. In simplified Chinese 历 is also used to mean "calendar", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 曆.
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Grammar Patterns of 历
历 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 13 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
"This ought to be fun," he told Alex, eyes gleaming.
Cultural Notes for 历
💡Did you know?
In traditional Chinese culture, calendars were essential for agricultural practices. The character 历 relates to the passage of time and events, reflecting how ancient Chinese societies kept track of seasons and harvests.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 历 is deeply intertwined with the importance of historical records and the cyclical nature of time, as seen in traditional calendars that guide agricultural and cultural practices.
Word Family of 历
Compounds7
雳li4thunderclap, crashing thunder
沥li4trickle, drip, dregs; to strain
呖li4the sound of something cracking or splitting
枥li4oak tree; a stable
坜li4drain, ditch, channel
疬li4scrofulous swellings or lumps
苈li4magnolia; Drabanemerosa hebecarpa
Words Containing This Character20
历史lìshǐhistory歷史
经历jīnglìexperience經歷
历史上historical歷史上
学历xuélìeducational background學歷
简历jiǎnlìrésumé簡歷
历程lìchéngcourse歷程
亚历山大Alexander (name)亞歷山大
病历medical record病歷
历lìall歷
历史性historic歷史性
日历rìlìcalendar日曆
历时lìshíto last歷時
历经lìjīngto experience歷經
历来lìláialways歷來
来历láilìhistory來歷
农历nónglìthe lunar calendar農曆
历险to experience adventures歷險
历代lìdàisuccessive generations歷代
资历zīlìqualifications資歷
历年over the years歷年
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 雳 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 历
The character 历 (lì) can refer to the old variants of the more commonly used characters 曆 and 歷. In modern usage, 历 is often used in contexts related to history or the passing of time, while the variants may appear in historical texts or discussions about traditional calendars.
You can use 历 (lì) in sentences to indicate a process or to emphasize that something happens to each or every item in a group. For example, '历史上每个朝代都有其特定的历程' means 'Each dynasty in history has its specific course.' This shows how 历 conveys the idea of each in a historical context.
历 (lì) means to pass through or to go through something. It can also refer to all, each, or every in certain contexts. Additionally, it is an old variant of the character 曆, which is related to calendars and historical records.
While 历 refers to the concept of history or experiences, 经验 specifically means 'experience' in the sense of learned knowledge or skills.
No, 历 is primarily used for past experiences and historical contexts, not for future events.
You can use it in sentences like '我经历了很多历程' (I have undergone many experiences).
