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March 24, 2026
厉(厲)lì(Li4)
The character 厉 (lì) primarily refers to strictness or severity, often used to describe a person's demeanor or behavior. It can also denote the act of sharpening or grinding, such as with a whetstone. In some contexts, it is a common Chinese surname, Li.
Strokes5Radical厂Frequency#44115DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being 厉 (strict) is often associated with discipline in education and governance, reflecting values of respect and order. This character can also appear in idiomatic expressions that emphasize the importance of rigor.
Memory tip
Imagine a strict teacher (严厉) sharpening a pencil with a whetstone (磨刀石) to prepare for an important lesson. The character 厉 looks like a roof (一) over a sharp edge (刀), emphasizing severity and sharpness.
Meanings of 厉
lì(Li4)
1strict
2severe
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 厉
厉Simplified
厲Traditional
5Strokes
厂Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#44115Frequency Rank
Podcast: 厉
Podcast: 厉
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AI study notes for 厉
Quick Contrast
厉 (strict) vs 严 (strict, severe) — use 厉 for a more intense connotation of severity.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 厉 with similar-sounding characters, such as 理 (lǐ) which means 'reason' or 'logic'. Use 厉 in formal contexts when discussing strictness, and avoid informal uses that stray from its serious connotation. Common collocations include 厉害 (lìhài) meaning 'severe' or 'awesome'.
HSK Study Tips
While 厉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it is valuable for students at HSK Level 4 and above due to its frequent use in literary and formal contexts. Focus on its meanings related to strictness and sharpness, as they can help in understanding nuanced expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly write 厉 as 利 (lì), which means 'benefit' or 'advantage'. Pay attention to the radical components to avoid confusion. For example, remember that 厉 emphasizes strictness and severity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 厉
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The character 厉 (lì) primarily refers to strictness or severity, often used to describe a person's demeanor or behavior. It can also denote the act of sharpening or grinding, such as with a whetstone. In some contexts, it is a common Chinese surname, Li.
When to use 厉
Learners often confuse 厉 with similar-sounding characters, such as 理 (lǐ) which means 'reason' or 'logic'. Use 厉 in formal contexts when discussing strictness, and avoid informal uses that stray from its serious connotation. Common collocations include 厉害 (lìhài) meaning 'severe' or 'awesome'.
厉 or something close to it
厉 (strict) vs 严 (strict, severe) — use 厉 for a more intense connotation of severity.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly write 厉 as 利 (lì), which means 'benefit' or 'advantage'. Pay attention to the radical components to avoid confusion. For example, remember that 厉 emphasizes strictness and severity.
Write 厉
厉
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Grammar patterns of 厉
厉 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 4 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.
We remember our mother's stern instructions not to boast.
5
那项判决已遭到了民权组织的严厉批评。
nà xiàng pànjué yǐ zāodào le mín quán zǔzhī de yánlì pīpíng。
That ruling had drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups.
6
那棵树倾斜得非常厉害。
nà kē shù qīngxié de fēicháng lìhai。
The tree was leaning at a low angle from the ground.
7
他那番严厉无情的话让她伤心得大哭起来。
tā nà fān yánlì wúqíng dehuà ràng tā shāngxīn de dà kū qǐlái。
She burst into tears, stung by the harshness of his words.
8
他病得厉害，不能赶到他儿子身边了。
tā bìng de lìhai， bù néng gǎndào tā érzi shēnbiān le。
He was too sick to travel to his son's side.
9
我的眼睛肿得很厉害，几乎看不到东西。
wǒ de yǎnjing zhǒng de hěn lìhai， jīhū kàn bù dào dōngxi。
My eyes were so swollen I could hardly see.
10
直升机在恢复平稳之前倾斜得很厉害。
zhíshēngjī zài huīfù píngwěn zhīqián qīngxié de hěn lìhai。
The helicopter turned at an awful angle before righting itself.
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Cultural Notes for 厉
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the concept of being '厉' (lì) often relates to leadership and discipline. A '厉' leader is seen as someone who is strict but fair, ensuring rules are followed for the greater good.
Word Family of 厉
Compounds5
励lìsurname Li
蛎lìoyster
砺lìwhetstone; to sharpen
栃lì
粝lìcoarse rice; brown rice
Words containing this character16
厉害lìhaiferocious厲害
严厉yánlìsevere嚴厲
厉lìstrict厲
再接再厉zàijiēzàilìunremitting efforts再接再厲
厉声lìshēngstern voice厲聲
变本加厉biànběnjiālìto aggravate變本加厲
凄厉qīlìmournful (sound)淒厲
雷厉风行léilìfēngxíngpass like thunder and move like the wind (idiom); swift and decisive reaction雷厲風行
厉行节约lìxíngjiéyuēto practice strict economy (idiom)厲行節約
厉鬼lìguǐdevil厲鬼
色厉内荏sèlìnèirěna sheep in wolf's clothing色厲內荏
正颜厉色zhèngyánlìsèsolemn in countenance (idiom); strict and unsmiling正顏厲色
正言厉色zhèngyánlìsèalso written 正顏厲色|正颜厉色正言厲色
峻厉jùnlìpitiless峻厲
威厉wēilìmajestic威厲
发扬蹈厉fāyángdǎolìto be full of vigor (idiom)發揚蹈厲
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 厉
What does 蛎 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 厉
Yes, 厉 (lì) is a relatively common surname in China. Surnames are an important aspect of Chinese culture, and many people with the surname 厉 can be found across different regions.
Some synonyms for 厉 (lì) include 严 (yán), which means 'strict,' and 恶劣 (èliè), meaning 'bad' or 'severe.' These words can convey similar meanings in contexts where intensity or strictness is described.
You can use 厉 (lì) in a sentence to describe someone's strict nature or a severe situation. For example, you might say '他的老师很厉' (tā de lǎoshī hěn lì) which means 'His teacher is very strict.'
厉 (lì) can mean 'severe' or 'strict' and is often used to describe something that is intense or harsh. It can also refer to a whetstone used for sharpening tools. Additionally, it is a common surname in China.
It is often used to describe someone's strict behavior or in phrases like '厉害' to express something impressive.
Yes, while it often denotes strictness, it can also imply 'awesome' or 'formidable' in certain contexts.
Yes, 厉 is a recognized surname in China, though not as common as others like 李 (Lǐ).
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