Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
咧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
咧
liē
to grimace, to grin
v, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
咧
liē
to draw back the corners of one's mouth
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
咧
liē
modal particle expressing exclamation
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
咧
liě
to grimace, to grin
v, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
咧
liě
to draw back the corners of one's mouth
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
咧
liě
modal particle expressing exclamation
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
咧
lie
to grimace, to grin
v, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
咧
lie
to draw back the corners of one's mouth
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
咧
lie
modal particle expressing exclamation
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #8868, Very Hard
liē(lie1)lie
primary
T1
1to grimace, to grin
2to draw back the corners of one's mouth
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
咧liē(lie1)
The character 咧 (liē) primarily means to grimace or grin, often used to describe a facial expression where the corners of the mouth are drawn back. It can also function as a modal particle expressing exclamation or surprise in informal speech, adding an emotional tone to a statement.
Strokes9Radical口Frequency#8868DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, facial expressions play a significant role in non-verbal communication, and a grin can signify friendliness or a light-hearted attitude, particularly in social settings. The usage of 咧 reflects this cultural emphasis on expressing emotions visually.
Memory tip
Imagine a person with a big grin on their face, showing their teeth, making them look a bit silly. The character 咧 resembles a mouth opening wide to show off that grin, with the '口' radical at its base representing the mouth. This connection helps you remember both its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 咧
liē(lie1)
primary
1to grimace, to grin
2to draw back the corners of one's mouth
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 咧 means.
About 咧
咧Simplified
9Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 咧
Podcast: 咧
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 咧
Usage Notes
咧 is often used in informal contexts and can convey a sense of playfulness or surprise. Be cautious not to confuse it with formal expressions; it’s primarily colloquial. For instance, using it in a serious conversation may come off as inappropriate.
HSK Study Tips
Since 咧 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, focus on its usage in everyday conversations. It connects well with informal expressions of emotion, so practicing with native speakers can enhance your understanding of its nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 咧 in formal contexts, believing it to be universally applicable. For example, saying '咧' in a business meeting would be inappropriate; rather, use more formal expressions to convey your feelings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咧
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 咧, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 咧 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 咧?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 咧 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.
咧 = 口 + 列. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 咧
IDS Structure⿰口列
咧Full character
=
口kou3
left
列lie4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 咧?
How to say to grimace, to grin in Chinese
“to grimace, to grin” in Chinese is咧liē
The character 咧 (liē) primarily means to grimace or grin, often used to describe a facial expression where the corners of the mouth are drawn back. It can also function as a modal particle expressing exclamation or surprise in informal speech, adding an emotional tone to a statement.
When to use 咧
咧 is often used in informal contexts and can convey a sense of playfulness or surprise. Be cautious not to confuse it with formal expressions; it’s primarily colloquial. For instance, using it in a serious conversation may come off as inappropriate.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 咧 in formal contexts, believing it to be universally applicable. For example, saying '咧' in a business meeting would be inappropriate; rather, use more formal expressions to convey your feelings.
Write 咧
咧
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 咧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 咧
咧 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
笑____咧的夫妻把东西装上他们的红色跑车后疾驰而去。
The giggling couple loaded up their red sports car and drove off.
Example sentences for 咧 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
笑咧咧的夫妻把东西装上他们的红色跑车后疾驰而去。
xiào liē liē de fūqī bǎ dōngxi zhuāng shàng tāmen de hóngsè pǎochē hòu jí chí ér qù。
The giggling couple loaded up their red sports car and drove off.
The officer's mouth opened, showing white, even teeth.
3
老咧咧 什么 ?
lǎo liē liē shénme?
Why do you always cry?
4
狗咬了他的脚腕子，疼得他龇牙咧嘴。
gǒu yǎo le tā de jiǎo wàn zi， téng de tā zī yá liězuǐ。
He winced as the dog nipped his ankle.
5
那个男孩子高兴得咧着嘴笑.
nàge nán háizi gāoxìng de liē zhe zuǐ xiào.
The boy grinned with delight.
6
他看见我站在那里，傻乎乎地咧着嘴朝他笑。
tā kànjiàn wǒ zhàn zài nàlǐ， shǎ hū hū dì liē zhe zuǐ cháo tā xiào。
He saw me standing there, grinning foolishly at him.
7
博比望着她腼腆地咧嘴一笑。
bó bǐ wàng zhe tā miǎntiǎn dì liězuǐ yī xiào。
Bobby looked at her with a sheepish grin.
8
他总是这样傻傻地咧嘴笑。
tā zǒngshì zhèyàng shǎ shǎ dì liězuǐ xiào。
He always had this inane grin.
9
波莉向她不自然地咧嘴一笑。
Bō lì xiàng tā bù zìrán dì liězuǐ yī xiào。
Polly gave her a crooked grin.
10
他不好意思地咧嘴一笑。
tā bùhǎoyìsi dì liězuǐ yī xiào。
He grinned sheepishly.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 咧?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 咧
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While grinning is often seen as friendly in both cultures, in Western contexts, it can be used in more serious situations, whereas in Chinese culture, it is typically reserved for casual interactions.
Word Family of 咧
Words containing this character6
咧liēmodal particle expressing exclamation
大大咧咧dàdaliēliēcarefree
龇牙咧嘴to grimace (in pain)齜牙咧嘴
骂骂咧咧to swear while talking罵罵咧咧
咧咧to whimper
呲牙咧嘴to grimace (in pain)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 咧
What does 大大咧咧 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 咧
You can say '他咧咧地笑了', meaning 'He grinned widely'. This shows the informal usage of the word.
No, 咧 is mainly used in spoken language and informal contexts, so avoid it in formal writing.
Expressions like '咧嘴笑' (grinning) or '咧咧' (to grimace) are common and illustrate its usage.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 咧?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
