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烈士 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
烈士lièshìmartyrHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14316, Very Hard
lièshì(lie4shi4)lie shi T4
  1. 1martyr
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March 24, 2026

烈士lièshì(lie4shi4)

烈士 (lièshì) refers to a martyr or a heroic figure who sacrifices their life for a noble cause, often related to patriotism or social justice. This term is commonly used in contexts such as commemorating individuals who fought for their country or ideals, and it carries a strong sense of respect and honor.

Strokes13Frequency#14316DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture,烈士 are often honored during national holidays like Tomb-Sweeping Day (清明节), where people pay respects to those who have died for their country. This reflects a deep societal respect for sacrifice and heroism.

Memory tip

Think of 烈士 as '烈' (liè) meaning 'fierce' or 'ardent', and '士' (shì) as 'gentleman' or 'scholar'. Imagine a fierce scholar who bravely stands up for their beliefs, illustrating the dedication of a martyr. Visualize this scholar standing valiantly in a field of flames, representing their fiery commitment.

Meanings of 烈士

lièshì(lie4shi4)
1martyr
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About 烈士

烈士Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 烈士

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AI study notes for 烈士

Quick Contrast

烈士 (lièshì) vs 英雄 (yīngxióng) — use 烈士 for those who died for a cause, while 英雄 can refer to any hero, living or dead.

Usage Notes

烈士 is a formal term often used in historical or commemorative contexts, so it's not typically used in casual conversation. Be cautious with tone; the first character '烈' has a fourth tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 烈士纪念 (commemoration of martyrs) and 英雄烈士 (heroic martyr).

HSK Study Tips

烈士 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, but understanding it can enhance comprehension of texts related to history or patriotism in Chinese culture. Students should focus on recognizing the characters and their usage in historical contexts to deepen their understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 烈士 with other terms for 'hero', such as 英雄 (yīngxióng), which is more general. For example, saying '他是烈士' (He is a hero) would be incorrect if the context is casual; '他是英雄' would be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 烈士

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Component characters

烈lièardent
10 strokes灬
View full entry
士shìmember of the senior ministerial class (old)
3 strokes士
View full entry

How to say martyr in Chinese

“martyr” in Chinese is烈士lièshì

烈士 (lièshì) refers to a martyr or a heroic figure who sacrifices their life for a noble cause, often related to patriotism or social justice. This term is commonly used in contexts such as commemorating individuals who fought for their country or ideals, and it carries a strong sense of respect and honor.

When to use 烈士

烈士 is a formal term often used in historical or commemorative contexts, so it's not typically used in casual conversation. Be cautious with tone; the first character '烈' has a fourth tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 烈士纪念 (commemoration of martyrs) and 英雄烈士 (heroic martyr).

烈士 or something close to it

烈士 (lièshì) vs 英雄 (yīngxióng) — use 烈士 for those who died for a cause, while 英雄 can refer to any hero, living or dead.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 烈士 with other terms for 'hero', such as 英雄 (yīngxióng), which is more general. For example, saying '他是烈士' (He is a hero) would be incorrect if the context is casual; '他是英雄' would be more appropriate.

Write 烈士

烈
士

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Frequently asked questions about 烈士

It is pronounced as 'liè shì' with both characters having a fourth tone.

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