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驪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
a pure-black horse; a pair of horsesx, 29 strokes, radical 馬, Very Hard
(li2) T2
  1. 1a pure-black horse; a pair of horses
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(li2)

The character 驪 (lí) refers to a pure-black horse, often associated with nobility or strength in Chinese literature. It can also denote a pair of horses, symbolizing companionship or teamwork. This character is typically used in poetic or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation.

Strokes29RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the color of a horse often signified its importance, and a black horse was seen as a symbol of power and prestige. The character 驪 reflects this cultural reverence for horses in Chinese history and mythology.

Memory Tip

Imagine a majestic black horse galloping through a dark forest at night. The character 驪 has the horse radical (马) and the component for 'black' (黑), which can help you remember its meaning: a striking black horse! The pronunciation 'lí' sounds like 'lee', as in the sound a horse makes when it gallops.

Meanings of 驪

(li2)
1a pure-black horse; a pair of horses
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 驪

Simplified
29Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 驪

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AI Study Notes for 驪

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a majestic black horse galloping through a dark forest at night. The character 驪 has the horse radical (马) and the component for 'black' (黑), which can help you remember its meaning: a striking black horse! The pronunciation 'lí' sounds like 'lee', as in the sound a horse makes when it gallops.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 驪 with other horse-related characters, such as 马 (mǎ), which means horse in general. This term is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversation. Pay attention to the tone: 驪 is pronounced with a rising tone (lí), which is crucial for correct usage.

HSK Study Tips

Although 驪 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it complements the study of horse-related terms and poetry in Chinese literature. Students should focus on recognizing the character and its components, as understanding the radicals can aid in memorization and context.

Cultural Note

In ancient China, the color of a horse often signified its importance, and a black horse was seen as a symbol of power and prestige. The character 驪 reflects this cultural reverence for horses in Chinese history and mythology.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly write 驪 as 马 (mǎ), which means horse more generally. It's important to remember that 驪 specifically refers to a black horse or a pair of horses.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 驪

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Etymology of 驪

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

horse

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 驪?

Decomposition of 驪

IDS Structure⿰馬麗
Full Character
=
ma3
left
li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 驪?

Write 驪

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 驪

🏮Cultural insight

In ancient China, the color of a horse often signified its importance, and a black horse was seen as a symbol of power and prestige. The character 驪 reflects this cultural reverence for horses in Chinese history and mythology.

Word Family of 驪

Words Containing This Character3
black horse
骊山Mt Li near Xi'an with the tomb of the First Emperor驪山
探骊得珠to see through to the nub探驪得珠
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 骊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 驪

No, 驪 is mostly found in literary works and formal contexts, rather than in daily speech.