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March 24, 2026
腊là(la4)
The character 腊 (là) primarily refers to the twelfth lunar month in the traditional Chinese calendar, often associated with the end of the year. It also signifies the practice of sacrificial offerings and the preparation of dried meats, particularly during festivals. In some contexts, it can refer to the old variant of the character 臘, which is less commonly used today.
Strokes12Radical⺼Frequency#22538DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
腊 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, particularly in the context of the Laba Festival, which marks the beginning of the preparations for the Lunar New Year, emphasizing family gatherings and the importance of food in celebrations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, festive banquet in December where people are preparing dried meats for a sacrifice. The character 腊 looks like a person offering something (the horizontal line at the top) while the 'meat' radical (月) symbolizes the food being prepared, reminding you of the end-of-year celebrations and the pronunciation 'là'.
Meanings of 腊
là(la4)
primary
1December; year's end sacrifice; dried meat
212th lunar month
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 腊
腊Simplified
12Strokes
⺼Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 腊
Podcast: 腊
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AI Study Notes for 腊
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large, festive banquet in December where people are preparing dried meats for a sacrifice. The character 腊 looks like a person offering something (the horizontal line at the top) while the 'meat' radical (月) symbolizes the food being prepared, reminding you of the end-of-year celebrations and the pronunciation 'là'.
Usage Notes
腊 is often used in specific cultural contexts, such as during the festival of Laba, when people make special dishes. Be cautious of the tone; the character is pronounced with a falling tone (là), which can change the meaning if pronounced incorrectly. It can collocate with words like 腊肉 (dried meat) and 腊月 (twelfth month).
HSK Study Tips
While 腊 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other time-related words. Focus on understanding its cultural significance and how it relates to traditional Chinese festivals, which can help you remember its meaning and usage.
Cultural Note
腊 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, particularly in the context of the Laba Festival, which marks the beginning of the preparations for the Lunar New Year, emphasizing family gatherings and the importance of food in celebrations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腊 (là) with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, mixing it up with 脚 (jiǎo, foot) can cause confusion in context; remember that 腊 specifically relates to the lunar month and food preparation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腊
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Grammar Patterns of 腊
腊 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
Complete the Sentence
他们认为古代希____罗马是知识的重要发源地。
They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning.
Example Sentences for 腊 (10)
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1
他们认为古代希腊罗马是知识的重要发源地。
tā mén rèn wéi gǔ dài xī là luó mǎ shì zhī shí de zhòng yào fā yuán dì。
They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning.
2
这一地区被希腊、塞尔维亚和保加利亚分成了3部分。
zhè yī dì qū bèi xī là、 、 sāi ěr wéi yà hé bǎo jiā lì yà fēn chéng3 le 3。
The region was split three ways, between Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria.
3
希腊人相信灵魂不灭。
xī là rén xiāng xìn líng hún bù miè。
The Greeks accepted belief in the immortality of the soul.
4
希腊人认为紫水晶可以防止人喝醉。
xī là rén rèn wéi zǐ shuǐ jīng kě yǐ fáng zhǐ rén hē zuì。
Amethyst was believed by the Greeks to protect a person from drunkenness.
5
根据希腊严厉的反毒品法律，他们将面临20年监禁。
gēn jù xī là yán lì de fǎn dú pǐn fǎ lǜ， ， tā mén jiāng miàn20 lín 20 nián。
Under Greece's stiff anti-drugs laws they could face twenty years in jail.
6
希腊酸奶比高脂浓奶油所含脂肪要少得多。
xī là suān nǎi bǐ gāo zhī nóng nǎi yóu suǒ hán zhī fáng yào shǎo dé duō。
Greek yogurt contains much less fat than double cream.
nín yào shí mó yàng ér de? ? yì dà lì xūn cháng? ne ? yì dà lì xián? là cháng ne ?? xiāng huǒ tuǐ ne ?? gān mò là cháng ne ??
What kind will you have? Bolony? Salami ? Spiced ham? Liverwurst? Head cheese?
10
你看, 腊梅开始吐露花蕾,向冬宣战!
nǐ kàn, , là méi kāi shǐ tǔ lòu huā, lěi , xiàng dōng!
You see, Lamei buds began to reveal to a declaration war winter!
Cultural Notes for 腊
🏮Cultural insight
腊 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, particularly in the context of the Laba Festival, which marks the beginning of the preparations for the Lunar New Year, emphasizing family gatherings and the importance of food in celebrations.
Word Family of 腊
Words Containing This Character16
希腊Greece希臘
腊làdried meat
腊肠sausage臘腸
腊月làyuètwelfth lunar month臘月
古希腊ancient Greece古希臘
腊八粥Laba congee, ceremonial rice porridge dish eaten on the 8th day of the 12th month in the Chinese calendar臘八粥
腊梅wintersweet臘梅
苏门答腊岛Sumatra (one of the Indonesian islands)蘇門答臘島
苏门答腊Sumatra, one of the Indonesian islands蘇門答臘
方腊Fang La方臘
烧腊barbecue (Cantonese style)燒臘
勐腊县Mengla county in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture 西雙版納傣族自治州|西双版纳傣族自治州[XīshuāngbǎnnàDǎizúzìzhìzhōu], Yunnan勐臘縣
希腊字母Greek alphabet希臘字母
勐腊Mengla county in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture 西雙版納傣族自治州|西双版纳傣族自治州[XīshuāngbǎnnàDǎizúzìzhìzhōu], Yunnan勐臘
希腊文Greek literature希臘文
苏门达腊Sumatra, one of the Indonesian islands蘇門達臘
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 希腊 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 腊
腊 is associated with end-of-year rituals and the preparation of special foods, marking important festivals.
It typically appears in discussions about traditional festivals, food, and the lunar calendar.
Yes, while less common, it still appears in cultural references and food-related contexts.
