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March 24, 2026
李Lǐ(Li3)
李 (Lǐ) is a common Chinese surname and also means 'plum.' It is used primarily in personal names and familial references. The character is often associated with the fruit, which holds cultural significance in Chinese cuisine and symbolism.
Strokes7Radical木Frequency#2758DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
The plum tree (李) is celebrated in Chinese culture for its resilience, as it blooms in winter, symbolizing perseverance and hope. This connection enhances its importance in both literature and everyday life.
Memory tip
Imagine a tall tree laden with plums (李) hanging from its branches. The character looks like a tree (木) with plum fruits (李) below it, reminding you that 'Li' is both a name and a fruit.
Meanings of 李
Lǐ(Li3)
1plum
2plum; luggage; surname
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 李
李Simplified
7Strokes
木Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#2758Frequency Rank
Podcast: 李
Podcast: 李
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AI study notes for 李
Usage Notes
When using 李 as a surname, it typically precedes the given name in Chinese naming conventions. Common mistakes include mispronouncing it as 'Li' instead of the correct 'Lǐ' with the third tone. It's important to always use the correct tone to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Although 李 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is fundamental for learners to recognize common surnames. Students should also focus on related vocabulary around fruits and family names to enhance contextual understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 李 with other surnames, such as 林 (Lín) or 赵 (Zhào), due to similar pronunciation. Remember, 李 has a distinct third tone (Lǐ), which is crucial for proper identification.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 李
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 李 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.
李 = 木 + 子. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 李
IDS Structure⿱木子
李Full character
=
木Mu4
top
子zi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 李?
How to say surname Li in Chinese
“surname Li” in Chinese is李Lǐ
李 (Lǐ) is a common Chinese surname and also means 'plum.' It is used primarily in personal names and familial references. The character is often associated with the fruit, which holds cultural significance in Chinese cuisine and symbolism.
When to use 李
When using 李 as a surname, it typically precedes the given name in Chinese naming conventions. Common mistakes include mispronouncing it as 'Li' instead of the correct 'Lǐ' with the third tone. It's important to always use the correct tone to avoid confusion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 李 with other surnames, such as 林 (Lín) or 赵 (Zhào), due to similar pronunciation. Remember, 李 has a distinct third tone (Lǐ), which is crucial for proper identification.
Write 李
李
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Grammar patterns of 李
李 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 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.
Don't worry, your luggage will come on afterwards by taxi.
11
李老师是我的中文老师。
Lǐ lǎoshī shì wǒ de zhōngwén lǎoshī.
Teacher Li is my Chinese teacher.
12
李先生住在北京。
Lǐ xiānsheng zhù zài Běijīng.
Mr. Li lives in Beijing.
13
我有一个朋友姓李。
Wǒ yǒu yī gè péngyǒu xìng Lǐ.
I have a friend whose surname is Li.
14
李小姐喜欢喝咖啡。
Lǐ xiǎojiě xǐhuān hē kāfēi.
Miss Li likes to drink coffee.
15
李先生是我的邻居。
Lǐ xiānsheng shì wǒ de línjū.
Mr. Li is my neighbor.
16
李老师是我的中文老师。
Lǐ lǎoshī shì wǒ de zhōngwén lǎoshī.
Teacher Li is my Chinese teacher.
17
李先生住在北京。
Lǐ xiānsheng zhù zài Běijīng.
Mr. Li lives in Beijing.
18
我有一个朋友姓李。
Wǒ yǒu yī gè péngyǒu xìng Lǐ.
I have a friend whose surname is Li.
19
李小姐喜欢喝咖啡。
Lǐ xiǎojiě xǐhuān hē kāfēi.
Miss Li likes to drink coffee.
20
李先生是我的邻居。
Lǐ xiānsheng shì wǒ de línjū.
Mr. Li is my neighbor.
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Cultural Notes for 李
💡Did you know?
李 (Lǐ) is one of the most common surnames in China, often associated with nobility and historical figures. It is also linked to the plum tree, which is a symbol of resilience and beauty in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 李
Words containing this character20
李Lǐsurname Li
行李xíngliluggage
行李箱xínglixiāngsuitcase
李宇春lǐyǔchūnLi Yuchun aka Chris Lee (1984-), Chinese pop singer
李娜lǐnàLi Na (1982-), Chinese tennis player, first Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles title (2011 French Open women's singles)
李鹏lǐpéngLi Peng (1928-), leading PRC politician, prime minister 1987-1998, reportedly leader of the conservative faction advocating the June 1989 Tiananmen clampdown李鵬
李子lǐziplum
李小龙lǐxiǎolóngBruce Lee (1940-1973), Hong Kong actor and martial arts expert李小龍
李昌镐lǐchānghàoLee Chang-ho (1975-), South Korean Go player李昌鎬
李登辉lǐdēnghuīLee Teng-hui (1923-), Taiwanese politician, president of ROC 1988-2000李登輝
李宁lǐníngLi Ning (1963-), PRC gymnast, winner of three gold medals at Los Angeles 1984 Olympic games李寧
李铁lǐtiěLi Tie (1977-), footballer李鐵
李嘉诚lǐjiāchéngSir Li Ka-shing (1928-), Hong Kong businessman李嘉誠
李白lǐbáiLi Bai (701-762), famous Tang Dynasty poet
李世民lǐshìmínLi Shimin, personal name of second Tang emperor Taizong 唐太宗[TángTàizōng] (599-649), reigned 626-649
李亚鹏lǐyàpéngLi Yapeng (1971-), PRC actor李亞鵬
李肇星lǐzhàoxīngLi Zhaoxing (1940-), former PRC foreign minister
李连杰lǐliánjiéLi Lianjie or Jet Li (1963-), martial arts sportsman, subsequently film star and director李連杰
李斯lǐsīLi Si (c. 280-208 BC), Legalist philosopher, calligrapher and prime minister of Qin kingdom and Qin dynasty from 246 to 208 BC
李安lǐ’ānAng Li (1954-), Taiwanese-American film director (films include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 臥虎藏龍|卧虎藏龙 and Brokeback Mountain 斷背山|断背山)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 李
What does 行李 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 李
Yes, 李 (Lǐ) is one of the most common surnames in China, ranking among the top three. Many people across various regions in China bear this surname, and it has historical significance in Chinese culture.
You can use 李 (Lǐ) in sentences to refer to the fruit or as a surname. For example, '李老师' (Lǐ lǎoshī) means 'Teacher Li'. When talking about the fruit, you could say '我喜欢吃李子' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī lǐzi), which means 'I like to eat plums'.
李 (Lǐ) primarily means 'plum' in Chinese and is also a common surname. The character is used in various contexts, including names of people and places. Additionally, it can sometimes refer to luggage in colloquial usage, although this is less common.
李 can mean both a common surname and 'plum,' which is a popular fruit in China.
李 is pronounced as Lǐ, with a rising third tone.
Yes, 李 is one of the most common surnames in China.
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