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篥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
篥lìbugle, Tartar hornx, 16 strokes, radical ⺮
篥lìbamboos good for polesunknown, 16 strokes, radical ⺮
篥lìhornunknown, 16 strokes, radical ⺮
lì(li4) T4
  1. 1bugle, Tartar horn
  2. 2bamboos good for poles
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

篥lì(li4)

The character 篥 (lì) refers to a type of wind instrument, specifically a bugle or Tartar horn, often made from bamboo. It is also associated with bamboo that is suitable for making poles. This character is used in specific musical contexts and discussions about traditional instruments.

Strokes16Radical⺮
Cultural Note

The 篥 is linked to traditional Chinese music, particularly in folk performances where bamboo instruments play a significant role. Bamboo craftsmanship is a respected art form in China, reflecting the deep connection between nature and culture.

Memory Tip

Think of 'lì' as a 'leafy' bamboo bugle. Imagine blowing into a bamboo tube (the bugle) with leaves fluttering around, producing a distinct sound. The bamboo suggests its material, while the image of blowing connects to the idea of a horn.

Meanings of 篥

lì(li4)
1bugle, Tartar horn
2bamboos good for poles
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 篥

篥Simplified
16Strokes
⺮Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 篥

JasonAmy

Podcast: 篥

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AI Study Notes for 篥

Usage Notes

When using 篥, be careful not to confuse it with other musical instruments like 哨 (shào), which means whistle. It is more commonly found in formal contexts, especially in discussions about traditional Chinese music. Ensure correct tone usage, as mispronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 篥 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be relevant for learners interested in music-related terms. Students should focus on associating this character with other musical terms and bamboo-related vocabulary, enhancing their cultural and contextual understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 篥 with other musical instrument characters. For example, using 篥 when they mean to refer to a flute (笛, dí) is a common error. Always check the context to ensure the right instrument is referenced.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 篥

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Etymology of 篥

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

flute

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)栗
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 篥

  1. 1The meaning half⺮ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half栗 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayflute
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 篥? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 篥?

Decomposition of 篥

IDS Structure⿱⺮栗
篥Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
栗li4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 篥?

How to say bugle, Tartar horn in Chinese

“bugle, Tartar horn” in Chinese is篥lì

The character 篥 (lì) refers to a type of wind instrument, specifically a bugle or Tartar horn, often made from bamboo. It is also associated with bamboo that is suitable for making poles. This character is used in specific musical contexts and discussions about traditional instruments.

When to use 篥

When using 篥, be careful not to confuse it with other musical instruments like 哨 (shào), which means whistle. It is more commonly found in formal contexts, especially in discussions about traditional Chinese music. Ensure correct tone usage, as mispronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 篥 with other musical instrument characters. For example, using 篥 when they mean to refer to a flute (笛, dí) is a common error. Always check the context to ensure the right instrument is referenced.

Write 篥

篥

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 篥

Words Containing This Character1
篥lìhorn
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 篥 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 篥

It is pronounced as 'lì' with a falling tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 篥?

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.