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璃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
璃lí(phonetic character used in transliteration of foreign names)x, 14 strokes, radical 王, Medium
璃líTaiwan pr. [lì]x, 14 strokes, radical 王, Medium
璃líglass; colored glazex, 14 strokes, radical 王, Medium
璃líTaiwan pr. [li4]unknown, 14 strokes, radical 王, Medium
lí(li2)li T2
  1. 1(phonetic character used in transliteration of foreign names)
  2. 2Taiwan pr. [lì]
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March 24, 2026

璃(琍)lí(li2)

The character 璃 (lí) refers to a type of colored glaze or glass, often used in artistic contexts. It is commonly associated with the beauty of crafted items, especially in traditional Chinese art. In addition to its material significance, it serves as a phonetic character in transliterations of foreign names.

Strokes14Radical王Frequency#1762DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, colored glaze is often used in pottery and art, symbolizing beauty and craftsmanship. The practice of creating colored glass or glaze can be traced back to ancient dynasties, reflecting the rich artistic heritage of China.

Memory tip

Imagine a beautiful glass sculpture that shines with colors, representing the character 璃. The top part resembles a shiny glass dome, while the bottom part can remind you of the flowing colors inside. Think of 'li' as 'light' reflecting off this colored glass, making it easier to remember its pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 璃

lí(li2)
1(phonetic character used in transliteration of foreign names)
2Taiwan pr. [lì]
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 璃

璃Simplified
琍Traditional
14Strokes
王Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 璃

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Podcast: 璃

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AI study notes for 璃

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 璃 (lí) with similar-sounding characters like 理 (lǐ), which means 'reason' or 'logic'. 璃 is more common in artistic contexts or when discussing materials, so be mindful of its specific usage. This character is less formal and often appears in descriptive phrases.

HSK Study Tips

Although 璃 is not an HSK character, it can be linked to other HSK vocabulary concerning art and materials. Focus on understanding its nuances in context, particularly when encountering descriptions of pottery or glassware in literature or conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly write 璃 as 理 (lǐ) due to the similar pronunciation and stroke count. Always remember that 璃 relates to glass and glaze, while 理 pertains to logic and reasoning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 璃

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Etymology of 璃

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

Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 离 represents the sound. Simplified form of 琍.

Memory hint

jade

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

Origin

璃 = 王 + 离. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 璃

IDS Structure⿰王离
璃Full character
=
王Wang2
left
离chi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 璃?

How to say (phonetic character used in transliteration of foreign names) in Chinese

“(phonetic character used in transliteration of foreign names)” in Chinese is璃lí

The character 璃 (lí) refers to a type of colored glaze or glass, often used in artistic contexts. It is commonly associated with the beauty of crafted items, especially in traditional Chinese art. In addition to its material significance, it serves as a phonetic character in transliterations of foreign names.

When to use 璃

Learners often confuse 璃 (lí) with similar-sounding characters like 理 (lǐ), which means 'reason' or 'logic'. 璃 is more common in artistic contexts or when discussing materials, so be mindful of its specific usage. This character is less formal and often appears in descriptive phrases.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly write 璃 as 理 (lǐ) due to the similar pronunciation and stroke count. Always remember that 璃 relates to glass and glaze, while 理 pertains to logic and reasoning.

Write 璃

璃

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

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Grammar patterns of 璃

璃 carries 4 distinct meanings. 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 4

Fill the gap

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

需要保护你的手臂和双腿免受玻____反射光线的照射。

Your arms and legs need protection from light bouncing off glass.

Example sentences for 璃 (10)

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1
需要保护你的手臂和双腿免受玻璃反射光线的照射。

xūyào bǎohù nǐ de shǒubì hé shuāng tuǐ miǎn shòu bōli fǎnshè guāngxiàn de zhàoshè。

Your arms and legs need protection from light bouncing off glass.
2
你可以在玻璃后面挂几条织品。

nǐ kěyǐ zài bōli hòumiàn guà jǐ tiáo zhī pǐn。

You can hang lengths of fabric behind the glass.
3
一些最高档的酒杯是用铅晶质玻璃制成的。

yìxiē zuì gāodàng de jiǔ bēi shì yòng qiān jīng zhì bōli zhìchéng de。

Some of the finest drinking glasses are made from lead crystal.
4
玻璃瓶中盛满了被食用色素染过色的水。

bōli píng zhōng chéng mǎn le bèi shíyòng sè sù rǎn guò sè de shuǐ。

Glass bottles are filled with water tinted with food colourings.
5
我们花了很多钱买波希米亚玻璃制品送人和自用。

wǒmen huā le hěn duō qián mǎi Bō xī mǐ yà bōli zhìpǐn sòng rén hé zì yòng。

We splurged on Bohemian glass for gifts, and for ourselves.
6
这座楼完全是现代主义风格:采用玻璃和铝质材料,以灰色作为基调。

zhè zuò lóu wánquán shì xiàndài zhǔyì fēnggé: cǎiyòng bōli hé lǚ zhì cáiliào, yǐ huīsè zuòwéi jī diào。

The building is impeccably modernist: glass, aluminium and grey.
7
在半玻璃杯水里面加上几滴。

zài bàn bōli bēi shuǐ lǐmiàn jiāshàng jǐ dī。

Add a few drops to half a tumbler of water.
8
突如其来的一声巨响在建筑物间回荡着,震碎了玻璃。

tūrúqílái de yī shēng jù xiǎng zài jiànzhùwù jiān huí dàng zhe, zhèn suì le bōli。

The bang came suddenly, echoing across the buildings, shattering glass.
9
有一点白兰地溢出了玻璃杯。

yǒu yīdiǎn bái lán dì yì chū le bōli bēi。

A little cognac slopped over the edge of the glass.
10
有玻璃门通到这个阳台。

yǒu bōli mén tōng dào zhège yángtái。

There were glass doors leading on to this balcony.

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Word Family of 璃

Words containing this character16
玻璃bōliglass
玻璃杯bōlibēidrinking glass
玻璃体bōlítǐvitreous humor玻璃體
琉璃liúlicolored glass
挡风玻璃dǎngfēngbōliwindshield擋風玻璃
琉璃瓦liúliwǎglazed roof tile
玻璃纤维bōlíxiānwéifiberglass玻璃纖維
璃líTaiwan pr. [lì]琍
窗玻璃chuāngbōlíwindow pane
钢化玻璃gānghuàbōlireinforced glass鋼化玻璃
玻璃钢bōligāngfiberglass玻璃鋼
玻璃纸bōlizhǐcellophane玻璃紙
有机玻璃yǒujībōliplexiglass有機玻璃
玻璃化bōlihuàvitrification
毛玻璃máobōlifrosted glass
玻璃罩bōlizhàoglass cover
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 璃

What does 玻璃 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 璃

In everyday conversation, 璃 is often used to describe beautiful glass or glaze objects, particularly in artistic contexts.

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