Meanings of 俐
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About 俐
Podcast: 俐
Podcast: 俐
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AI Study Notes for 俐
聪明 (cōngmíng) vs 机灵 (jīling) — use 俐 (lì) when emphasizing agility in thought or action, while 聪明 (cōngmíng) focuses more on general intelligence, and 机灵 (jīling) suggests cleverness with a hint of trickiness.
Avoid using 俐 in overly formal contexts, as it is somewhat informal. Common collocations include 俐落 (lì luò, meaning sharp or quick) and 俐智 (lì zhì, meaning cleverness). Be cautious with tone; 'lì' should be pronounced with a falling tone, not a rising one.
While 俐 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to basic vocabulary about intelligence and skills. Students should focus on similar adjectives that describe personality traits, such as 聪明 (cōngmíng, smart) and 灵活 (línghuó, agile).
Learners often confuse 俐 with 利 (lì, meaning profit or benefit). For example, saying '这个人很利' (This person is very利) is incorrect; instead, use '这个人很俐' (This person is very clever).
Pronunciation of 俐
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Etymology of 俐
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 利 represents the sound.
person
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 俐
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 利 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half利 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayperson
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 俐? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 俐?
Decomposition of 俐
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 俐?
How to say clever in Chinese
“clever” in Chinese is俐
The character 俐 (lì) means clever or sharp, often describing someone who is quick-witted or intelligent. It can also imply smoothness in action or thought, indicating a person who is agile in their thinking or approach. This word is commonly used to compliment someone's intelligence or ability to handle situations adeptly.
When to use 俐
Avoid using 俐 in overly formal contexts, as it is somewhat informal. Common collocations include 俐落 (lì luò, meaning sharp or quick) and 俐智 (lì zhì, meaning cleverness). Be cautious with tone; 'lì' should be pronounced with a falling tone, not a rising one.
俐 or something close to it
聪明 (cōngmíng) vs 机灵 (jīling) — use 俐 (lì) when emphasizing agility in thought or action, while 聪明 (cōngmíng) focuses more on general intelligence, and 机灵 (jīling) suggests cleverness with a hint of trickiness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 俐 with 利 (lì, meaning profit or benefit). For example, saying '这个人很利' (This person is very利) is incorrect; instead, use '这个人很俐' (This person is very clever).
Write 俐
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Practice writing 俐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 俐
俐 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.
Complete the Sentence
他是个不错的小伙子——聪明伶____而且性格开朗。
He was a nice lad — bright and with a sunny disposition.
Example Sentences for 俐 (3)
Word Family of 俐
Compound Meaning
What does 伶俐 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 俐
Yes, 俐 is commonly used in informal settings to describe someone who is clever or quick-thinking.
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