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私立 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
私立sīlìprivate (company, school etc)HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #11236, Very Hard
sīlì(si1li4)si li T1
  1. 1private (company, school etc)
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March 24, 2026

私立sīlì(si1li4)

The term '私立' refers to institutions that are privately owned and operated, such as private schools or companies. It indicates that these entities are not funded or controlled by the government, often emphasizing a level of exclusivity or personalized service in contrast to public institutions.

Strokes12Frequency#11236DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In China, private schools ('私立学校') often emphasize different educational philosophies and can be quite competitive. They are typically perceived as providing better educational resources and opportunities than some public schools.

Memory Tip

Imagine a private garden ('私' sounds like 'si', which you could visualize as a secret place) surrounded by a tall fence ('立' relates to standing, as in standing tall). This garden is exclusive to certain people, just like a private school is exclusive to its students.

Meanings of 私立

sīlì(si1li4)
1private (company, school etc)
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About 私立

私立Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 私立

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Podcast: 私立

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AI Study Notes for 私立

Quick Contrast

私立 (private) vs 公立 (public) — use 私立 when referring to privately owned entities, whereas 公立 is for government-funded institutions.

Usage Notes

While '私立' is commonly used to describe schools, it can also apply to businesses or organizations. Be mindful of context, as using it incorrectly in reference to public institutions can lead to misunderstandings. It is often paired with terms like '学校' (school) or '公司' (company).

HSK Study Tips

This term is not part of the official HSK vocabulary but is relevant for learners interested in discussing education and business. Focus on the components of the word and related vocabulary, such as '公立' (public) to understand the contrast.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '私立' with '私有', which means privately owned but is not used for institutions. For example, saying '私有学校' is incorrect; the correct term is '私立学校'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 私立

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Component Characters

私sīpersonal
7 strokes禾
View full entry
立lìto stand
HSK 65 strokes立
View full entry

How to say private (company, school etc) in Chinese

“private (company, school etc)” in Chinese is私立sīlì

The term '私立' refers to institutions that are privately owned and operated, such as private schools or companies. It indicates that these entities are not funded or controlled by the government, often emphasizing a level of exclusivity or personalized service in contrast to public institutions.

When to use 私立

While '私立' is commonly used to describe schools, it can also apply to businesses or organizations. Be mindful of context, as using it incorrectly in reference to public institutions can lead to misunderstandings. It is often paired with terms like '学校' (school) or '公司' (company).

私立 or something close to it

私立 (private) vs 公立 (public) — use 私立 when referring to privately owned entities, whereas 公立 is for government-funded institutions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '私立' with '私有', which means privately owned but is not used for institutions. For example, saying '私有学校' is incorrect; the correct term is '私立学校'.

Write 私立

私
立

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 私立

'私立' refers to private institutions, while '公立' refers to public ones, usually funded by the government.

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