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March 24, 2026
刘(劉)liú(Liu2)
The character 刘 (liú) primarily means 'to kill' or 'to destroy,' but it is also a common Chinese surname. In different contexts, it can imply a sense of elimination or removal, and as a surname, it is quite prevalent in China.
Strokes6Radical刂Frequency#12693DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The surname 刘 is associated with many historical figures in Chinese history, including Liu Bei from the Three Kingdoms period, highlighting its cultural significance. In modern times, many well-known personalities bear this surname.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce warrior named Liu who is known for his skills in battle, striking down enemies. The character 刘 combines the radical for 'man' (亻) with the phonetic component 'liú,' helping you remember that this character is about action and force.
Meanings of 刘
liú(Liu2)
1to kill, to destroy; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 刘
刘Simplified
劉Traditional
6Strokes
刂Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 刘
Podcast: 刘
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AI Study Notes for 刘
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fierce warrior named Liu who is known for his skills in battle, striking down enemies. The character 刘 combines the radical for 'man' (亻) with the phonetic component 'liú,' helping you remember that this character is about action and force.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 刘 with similar-sounding characters like 流 (liú), which means 'to flow.' Liu is a surname and should be used respectfully when addressing individuals. Be mindful of the tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone, which can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 刘 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it is useful to know as a surname and in historical contexts. Students should focus on recognizing it in texts or conversations, especially since it may appear in common names and phrases.
Cultural Note
The surname 刘 is associated with many historical figures in Chinese history, including Liu Bei from the Three Kingdoms period, highlighting its cultural significance. In modern times, many well-known personalities bear this surname.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 刘 with the character for 'flow' (流, liú), which can lead to misunderstandings. A correct example would be using 刘 for a surname, whereas flow should be used in contexts involving movement, like water.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 刘
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Simplified form of 劉. Based on the original meaning "battle-axe". The current meaning is a phonetic loan. The traditional component 卯 was removed for simplification.
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Grammar Patterns of 刘
刘 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
“不管怎样，我到底做错了什么？”——“这我也不知道，____易斯。”
"What am I doing wrong, anyway?" — "Beats me, Lewis."
General Lewis Hyde had served under General "Billy" Mitchell.
Cultural Notes for 刘
🏮Cultural insight
The surname 刘 is associated with many historical figures in Chinese history, including Liu Bei from the Three Kingdoms period, highlighting its cultural significance. In modern times, many well-known personalities bear this surname.
Word Family of 刘
Words Containing This Character13
刘liúsurname Liu劉
刘翔Liu Xiang (1983-), Chinese gold-medal hurdler of the 2004 Olympic Games劉翔
刘海bangs劉海
刘德华Andy Lau (1961-), Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actor劉德華
刘少奇Liu Shaoqi (1898-1969), Chinese communist leader, a martyr of the Cultural Revolution劉少奇
刘备Liu Bei (161-223), warlord at the end of the Han dynasty and founder of the Han kingdom of Shu 蜀漢|蜀汉 (c. 200-263), later the Shu Han dynasty劉備
刘邦Liu Bang (256 or 247-195 BC), bandit leader who became first Han emperor Han Gaozu 漢高祖|汉高祖 (reigned 202-195 BC)劉邦
刘裕Liu Yu, founder of Song of the Southern dynasties 劉宋|刘宋[LiúSòng], broke away from Eastern Jin in 420, reigned as Emperor Wu of Song 宋武帝[SòngWǔdì]劉裕
刘洋Liu Yang (1978-), China's first female astronaut in space (June 16, 2012)劉洋
刘表Liu Biao (142-208), warlord劉表
刘心武Liu Xinwu (1942-), novelist劉心武
刘家辉Gordon Liu (1955-), Hong Kong action actor劉家輝
刘云山Liu Yunshan (1947-), PRC career politician, background in journalism in Inner Mongolia, from 2002 head of party Central Propaganda Section 中央宣传部劉雲山
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 刘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 刘
While 刘 is primarily a surname in modern usage, it can also mean 'to kill' or 'to destroy' in certain contexts.
刘 is pronounced as 'liú' with a rising tone, similar to how you might say 'you' but with a rising intonation.
Besides being a surname and having meanings related to destruction, 刘 can also appear in various compound words and phrases.
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