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娌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
娌lǐbrother's wifex, 10 strokes, radical 女
lǐ(li3)li T3
  1. 1brother's wife
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March 24, 2026

娌lǐ(li3)

The character 娌 (lǐ) refers to a brother's wife, typically used in familial contexts to describe one's sister-in-law. It is often seen in combination with the character 妯 (zhóu) to form 妯娌 (zhóu lǐ), which collectively refers to sisters-in-law. This term emphasizes the familial ties and relationships within Chinese culture.

Strokes10Radical女
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, family relationships are highly valued, and terms like 娌 reflect the importance of understanding one's position within the family hierarchy. This character highlights the significance of kinship bonds, particularly in traditional family structures.

Memory tip

Imagine a woman (the character 娌) standing next to her husband’s brother. The character has the '女' radical, which signifies femininity, and the '里' component, suggesting she is part of the family’s internal circle. Picture her wearing a lovely dress, symbolizing her role in family gatherings.

Meanings of 娌

lǐ(li3)
1brother's wife
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 娌 means.

About 娌

娌Simplified
10Strokes
女Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 娌

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Podcast: 娌

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AI study notes for 娌

Usage Notes

When using 娌, remember that it is quite specific to familial relationships, so avoid using it in casual contexts unrelated to family. It often appears in discussions about family dynamics or in formal contexts when discussing relatives. Be mindful of the tone; the third tone can sometimes be pronounced incorrectly, leading to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 娌 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for students aiming for higher levels of fluency in family-related topics. Students should focus on learning related terms like 妯娌 and other family vocabulary to build a richer understanding of familial relationships.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 娌 with other family terms; for instance, using it to refer to a sister instead of a sister-in-law. Ensure you remember that 娌 specifically pertains to a brother's wife.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 娌

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Etymology of 娌

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

woman

Semantic (meaning)女
+
Phonetic (sound)里
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

娌 = 女 + 里. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 娌

IDS Structure⿰女里
娌Full character
=
女nü3
left
里li3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 娌?

How to say brother's wife in Chinese

“brother's wife” in Chinese is娌lǐ

The character 娌 (lǐ) refers to a brother's wife, typically used in familial contexts to describe one's sister-in-law. It is often seen in combination with the character 妯 (zhóu) to form 妯娌 (zhóu lǐ), which collectively refers to sisters-in-law. This term emphasizes the familial ties and relationships within Chinese culture.

When to use 娌

When using 娌, remember that it is quite specific to familial relationships, so avoid using it in casual contexts unrelated to family. It often appears in discussions about family dynamics or in formal contexts when discussing relatives. Be mindful of the tone; the third tone can sometimes be pronounced incorrectly, leading to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 娌 with other family terms; for instance, using it to refer to a sister instead of a sister-in-law. Ensure you remember that 娌 specifically pertains to a brother's wife.

Write 娌

娌

Practice writing 娌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 娌

娌 carries one core meaning. 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 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

她们俩个是 妯____.

They two are sisters - in - law .

Example sentences for 娌 (1)

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1
她们俩个是 妯娌.

tāmen liǎ gè shì zhóu lǐ.

They two are sisters - in - law .
Exercise 1 of 1

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Rebuild it: “They two are sisters - in - law .”

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Word Family of 娌

Words containing this character2
妯娌wives of brothers
娌lǐwives of brothers
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 娌

What does 妯娌 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 娌

You can say '我的娌很友好' (My sister-in-law is very friendly) to describe your brother's wife.

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