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屡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
time and againHSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 尸, rank #23517, Hard
repeatedlyHSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 尸, rank #23517, Hard
frequentlyHSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 尸, rank #23517, Hard
frequently, often, again and againHSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 尸, rank #23517, Hard
time and againHSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 尸, rank #23517, Hard
repeatedlyHSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 尸, rank #23517, Hard
frequentlyHSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 尸, rank #23517, Hard
frequently, often, again and againHSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 尸, rank #23517, Hard
(lü3)
primary
T3
  1. 1time and again
  2. 2repeatedly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(屢)(lü3)

The character 屡 (lǚ) means 'repeatedly' or 'frequently.' It conveys the idea of something occurring multiple times, often in the context of actions or behaviors. Commonly used in expressions that describe habits or recurring events, it emphasizes the regularity of the occurrence.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#23517DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of repetition often connects with the value placed on persistence and learning through experience. The saying '屡战屡胜' (lǚ zhàn lǚ shèng) highlights the importance of repeatedly striving for success.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person climbing a mountain (the radical 屮 on the left) over and over again, signifying persistence. The character 屡 can be visualized as this person ‘climbing’ (lǚ) again and again, making it memorable as 'repeatedly climbing'.

Meanings of 屡

(lü3)
primary
1time and again
2repeatedly
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 屡

Simplified
Traditional
12Strokes
Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#23517Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 屡

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AI Study Notes for 屡

Quick Contrast

屡 (lǚ) vs 常 (cháng) — use 屡 for emphasis on repeated actions with a sense of occurrence over time, while 常 indicates a general frequency or habitual nature without the same emphasis on repetition.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person climbing a mountain (the radical 屮 on the left) over and over again, signifying persistence. The character 屡 can be visualized as this person ‘climbing’ (lǚ) again and again, making it memorable as 'repeatedly climbing'.

Usage Notes

屡 is often used in formal contexts, so be mindful of your audience. A common mistake is to confuse it with 类 (lèi), which means 'type' or 'category.' Collocations include 屡次 (lǚ cì), meaning 'repeated times,' and 屡见不鲜 (lǚ jiàn bù xiān), meaning 'often seen and not fresh.'

HSK Study Tips

屡 is not part of the official HSK levels; however, it is useful for learners at HSK 5 and above as it connects with vocabulary related to frequency and habits. Focus on context and usage in phrases to strengthen understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of repetition often connects with the value placed on persistence and learning through experience. The saying '屡战屡胜' (lǚ zhàn lǚ shèng) highlights the importance of repeatedly striving for success.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 屡 with 屋 (wū), which means 'house.' An incorrect example would be using 屡 in a context where 屋 is intended, such as '我住在屡里' (I live in a repeatedly), which should be '我住在屋里' (I live in a house).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 屡

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Etymology of 屡

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 尸 represents the meaning and 娄 represents the sound. Simplified form of 屢.

Memory Hint

body

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 屡?

Decomposition of 屡

IDS Structure⿸尸娄
Full Character
=
shi1
enclosing
Lou2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 屡?

Write 屡

Practice writing 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 屡

屡 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

叛军____次尝试强攻这座建筑。

The rebel soldiers tried repeatedly to storm the building.

Example Sentences for 屡 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
叛军屡次尝试强攻这座建筑。

pàn jūn lǚ cì cháng shì qiáng gōng zhè zuò jiàn zhù。

The rebel soldiers tried repeatedly to storm the building.
2
外交大臣就该条约发表的观点有大量记述并被屡屡提及。

wài jiāo dà chén jiù gāi tiáo yuē fā biǎo de guān diǎn yǒu dà liáng jì shù bìng bèi lǚ lǚ tí jí。

The Foreign Secretary's views on the treaty are well-documented and oft-repeated.
3
一些人屡屡犯罪却从未受到惩戒,这真让我气愤。

yī xiē rén lǚ lǚ fàn zuì què cóng wèi shòu dào chéng jiè, , zhè zhēn ràng wǒ qì。

It makes me sick that people commit offences and never get punished.
4
在找到一份工作之前,要做好屡次碰壁的准备。

zài zhǎo dào yī fèn gōng zuò zhī qián, , yào zuò hǎo lǚ cì pèng bì de zhǔn。

Be prepared for lots of rejections before you land a job.

Cultural Notes for 屡

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of repetition often connects with the value placed on persistence and learning through experience. The saying '屡战屡胜' (lǚ zhàn lǚ shèng) highlights the importance of repeatedly striving for success.

Word Family of 屡

Words Containing This Character10
repeatedly
屡屡repeatedly屢屢
屡次repeatedly屢次
屡试不爽well-tried屢試不爽
屡见不鲜a common occurrence (idiom)屢見不鮮
屡禁不止to continue despite repeated prohibition (idiom)屢禁不止
屡教不改incorrigible屢教不改
屡遭to suffer repeatedly屢遭
屡战屡败to suffer defeat in every battle (idiom)屢戰屢敗
屡禁不绝to continue despite repeated prohibition (idiom)屢禁不絕
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 屡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 屡

While both can mean 'frequently,' 屡 emphasizes repetition over time, whereas 常 simply indicates something that happens often.