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篱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
bamboo fence; fence, hedgezg, 16 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #24821, Very Hard
a fenceunknown, 16 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #24821, Very Hard
(li2) T2
  1. 1bamboo fence; fence, hedge
  2. 2a fence
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March 24, 2026
(籬)(li2)

The character 篱 (lí) refers to a type of fence, particularly one made from bamboo or similar materials. It is commonly used in contexts relating to agriculture or garden design, symbolizing boundaries and protection.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#24821DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, bamboo is often associated with resilience and flexibility, making the bamboo fence (篱) a symbol of a harmonious relationship between nature and human habitation, often seen in traditional courtyards.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'bamboo fence' surrounding a garden. The 'bamboo' (竹, zhú) radical in 篱 represents the material of the fence, while the rest of the character suggests a protective barrier. Picture the sound 'lí' as the sound a breeze makes when it rustles through the bamboo.

Meanings of 篱

(li2)
1bamboo fence; fence, hedge
2a fence
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 篱

Simplified
Traditional
16Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 篱

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AI Study Notes for 篱

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'bamboo fence' surrounding a garden. The 'bamboo' (竹, zhú) radical in 篱 represents the material of the fence, while the rest of the character suggests a protective barrier. Picture the sound 'lí' as the sound a breeze makes when it rustles through the bamboo.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 篱 with similar characters like 栏 (lán), which also means 'fence' but often refers to a more decorative or formal type. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in rural settings. The correct tone is crucial; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

While 篱 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with related words like 栅栏 (zhàlán, fence) and 围墙 (wéiqiáng, wall). Students should focus on recognizing the bamboo radical and understanding its contextual use in discussions about gardens or properties.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, bamboo is often associated with resilience and flexibility, making the bamboo fence (篱) a symbol of a harmonious relationship between nature and human habitation, often seen in traditional courtyards.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the pronunciation with similar-sounding characters. For instance, saying 'lǐ' instead of 'lí' can lead to misunderstanding. Always remember the correct tone to avoid confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 篱

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Etymology of 篱

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 离 represents the sound. Simplified form of 籬.

Memory Hint

bamboo

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 篱?

Decomposition of 篱

IDS Structure⿱⺮离
Full Character
=
zhu2
top
chi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 篱?

Write 篱

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

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Grammar Patterns of 篱

篱 carries 2 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

Complete the Sentence

灌木树____和草地中开满了五彩缤纷的野花。

Hedgerows and meadows are thick with a tapestry of wild flowers.

Example Sentences for 篱 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
灌木树篱和草地中开满了五彩缤纷的野花。

guàn mù shù lí hé cǎo dì zhōng kāi mǎn le wǔ cǎi bīn fēn de yě huā。

Hedgerows and meadows are thick with a tapestry of wild flowers.
2
他正在为自己家搭建新的篱笆墙。

tā zhèng zài wéi zì jǐ jiā dā jiàn xīn de lí bā qiáng。

He was putting up a new fence at his home.
3
篱笆, 窝棚,什么都七倒八歪,叫你一眼就瞧出那穷形窘状.

lí bā, , wō, péng , shí mó dū qī dǎo, bā wāi , jiào nǐ yī yǎn jiù qiáo chū nà qióng.

Fences , sheds , everything had a ruined look, and were eloquent of poverty.
4
我们迁往北安普敦郡,置身于一派树篱和田野的新景致中。

wǒ mén qiān wǎng běi ān pǔ dūn jùn, , zhì shēn yú yī pài shù lí hé tián yě de xīn jǐng zhì。

We moved to Northamptonshire and a new landscape of hedges and fields.
5
雪靠着篱笆堆积起来.

xuě kào zháo lí bā duī jī qǐ lái.

Snow heaped against the fence.
6
雪贴着篱笆越积越多.

xuě tiē zháo lí bā yuè jī yuè duō.

Snow piled against the fence.
7
篱笆生了根,伸入土中.

lí bā shēng le gēn, , shēn rù tǔ.

The fence posts took root and grew into the earth!
8
她隔着花园篱笆和邻居聊了很久.

tā gé zháo huā yuán lí bā hé lín jū liáo le hěn jiǔ.

She had a good gossip with a neighbour over the garden fence.
9
沿着绿篱栽种着大约300棵树。

yán zháo lǜ lí zāi zhǒng zháo dà yuē300 300 kē。

Some 300 trees have been ranged along the perimeter hedge.
10
他蹲在一排低矮的树篱后面。

tā dūn zài yī pái dī ǎi de shù lí hòu miàn。

He crouched behind a low hedgerow.

Cultural Notes for 篱

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, bamboo is often associated with resilience and flexibility, making the bamboo fence (篱) a symbol of a harmonious relationship between nature and human habitation, often seen in traditional courtyards.

Word Family of 篱

Words Containing This Character5
篱笆fence (esp. of bamboo or wood railings)籬笆
a fence
寄人篱下to lodge under another person's roof (idiom); to live relying on sb else's charity寄人籬下
藩篱hedge藩籬
笊篱strainer (made of bamboo, wicker, or wire)笊籬
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 篱笆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 篱

While both mean 'fence', 篱 specifically refers to a bamboo or simple fence often used in rural areas, whereas 栏 is more about decorative or formal fences.