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March 24, 2026
呂lǚ(lü3)
The character 呂 (lǚ) primarily refers to a musical note, specifically in traditional Chinese music theory. It is also a common Chinese surname. In contexts related to music, it often denotes specific pitches or tones.
Strokes7Radical口Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, music plays a significant role in celebrations and rituals, with the character 呂 often appearing in discussions of traditional music practices. The surname 呂 is also historically significant, with notable figures in Chinese history bearing this name.
Memory Tip
Imagine a musical note that looks like a flute (lǚ sounds like 'loo' which is a playful sound a flute makes). The character has a mouth (口) radical which can remind you that music is often produced vocally or through instruments.
Meanings of 呂
lǚ(lü3)
1a musical note; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 呂
呂Simplified
7Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 呂
Podcast: 呂
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AI Study Notes for 呂
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a musical note that looks like a flute (lǚ sounds like 'loo' which is a playful sound a flute makes). The character has a mouth (口) radical which can remind you that music is often produced vocally or through instruments.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 呂 is often used in formal contexts related to music and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 呂洞賓 (Lǚ Dòngbīn), a famous figure in Taoist mythology. Pay attention to the tone; a mispronunciation may lead to confusion with other characters.
HSK Study Tips
Since 呂 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it’s wise to focus on its musical context and surname usage. Connecting it to other words associated with music, like 音 (yīn) for 'sound,' can enhance memory retention.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, music plays a significant role in celebrations and rituals, with the character 呂 often appearing in discussions of traditional music practices. The surname 呂 is also historically significant, with notable figures in Chinese history bearing this name.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 呂 (lǚ) with other similar-sounding characters like 吕 (lǚ), which has the same pronunciation but different usages. Ensure to use the correct character depending on the context, especially in writing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 呂
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Cultural Notes for 呂
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, music plays a significant role in celebrations and rituals, with the character 呂 often appearing in discussions of traditional music practices. The surname 呂 is also historically significant, with notable figures in Chinese history bearing this name.
Word Family of 呂
Words Containing This Character15
吕lǚsurname Lü呂
吕布Lü Bu (-198), general and warlord呂布
吕宋岛Luzon Island, north Philippines呂宋島
吕不韦Lü Buwei (?291-235 BC), merchant and politician of the State of Qin 秦國|秦国[Qínguó], subsequent Qin Dynasty 秦代[Qíndài] Chancellor, allegedly the father of Ying Zheng 嬴政[YíngZhèng], who subsequently became the first emperor Qin Shihuang 秦始皇[QínShǐhuáng]呂不韋
吕梁Lüliang prefecture-level city in Shanxi 山西呂梁
吕蒙Lü Meng (178-219), general of the southern state of Wu呂蒙
吕梁市Lüliang prefecture-level city in Shanxi 山西呂梁市
吕洞宾Lü Dongbin (796-), Tang Dynasty scholar, one of the Eight Immortals 八仙[Bāxiān]呂洞賓
律吕tuning律呂
吕望see Jiang Ziya 姜子牙[JiāngZǐyá]呂望
吕贝克Lübeck, Germany呂貝克
吕纯阳Lü Dongbin (796-), Tang Dynasty scholar, one of the Eight Immortals 八仙[Bāxiān]呂純陽
萨尔布吕肯Saarbrücken, capital of Saarland, Germany薩爾布呂肯
吕宋海峡Luzon Strait between Taiwan and Luzon Island (Philippines)呂宋海峽
泽布吕赫Zeebrugge (port city in Belgium)澤布呂赫
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 吕 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 呂
The correct pronunciation is lǚ, with a falling-rising tone.
It's more commonly found in musical contexts or when referring to the surname rather than in casual speech.
Besides being a musical note and a surname, it does not have widely recognized alternative meanings.