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栎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chestnut-leaved oakng, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #47700, Very Hard
oakunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #47700, Very Hard
Quercus serrataunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #47700, Very Hard
(li4) T4
  1. 1chestnut-leaved oak
  2. 2oak
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(櫟)(li4)

The character 栎 (lì) refers specifically to the chestnut-leaved oak, a type of oak tree known for its distinct leaves. It is commonly used in botanical contexts and discussions about forestry or landscaping. The character can also represent oak wood in general, which is valued for its strength and durability in construction and furniture making.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#47700DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, oak trees are often associated with strength and endurance, and their wood is traditionally used in crafting furniture and tools. The chestnut-leaved oak specifically is valued in certain regions for its ecological benefits.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sturdy oak tree standing tall with chestnut leaves. The character 栎 resembles a tree (木) with a roof (亥) over it, symbolizing a tree that provides shade, like an oak. The pronunciation 'lì' can be remembered by thinking of 'leafy' oak trees.

Meanings of 栎

(li4)
1chestnut-leaved oak
2oak
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 栎

Simplified
Traditional
9Strokes
Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 栎

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 栎

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a sturdy oak tree standing tall with chestnut leaves. The character 栎 resembles a tree (木) with a roof (亥) over it, symbolizing a tree that provides shade, like an oak. The pronunciation 'lì' can be remembered by thinking of 'leafy' oak trees.

Usage Notes

Avoid using 栎 in casual contexts where a more general term for 'tree' or 'wood' would suffice. It is typically used in formal or scientific discussions. Be cautious with the tone; it's pronounced with a falling tone (lì), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

While 栎 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 4 and above vocabulary related to nature and plants. Students should focus on recognizing tree-related characters and their uses in various contexts, enhancing their botanical vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, oak trees are often associated with strength and endurance, and their wood is traditionally used in crafting furniture and tools. The chestnut-leaved oak specifically is valued in certain regions for its ecological benefits.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 栎 with other tree-related characters like 林 (lín, forest) or 木 (mù, wood). Remember that 栎 specifically refers to a type of oak and should not be used interchangeably with more general terms.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 栎

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Etymology of 栎

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

tree

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 栎?

Decomposition of 栎

IDS Structure⿰木乐
Full Character
=
Mu4
left
Le4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 栎?

Write 栎

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

Grammar Patterns of 栎

栎 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

____木弯而不折.

Oak may bend but will not break.

Example Sentences for 栎 (1)

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1
栎木弯而不折.

lì mù wān ér bù zhē.

Oak may bend but will not break.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

Oak may bend but will not break.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Cultural Notes for 栎

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, oak trees are often associated with strength and endurance, and their wood is traditionally used in crafting furniture and tools. The chestnut-leaved oak specifically is valued in certain regions for its ecological benefits.

Word Family of 栎

Words Containing This Character3
oak
栎树oak tree櫟樹
栓皮栎Chinese cork oak (Quercus variabilis)栓皮櫟
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 栎 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 栎

It refers to the chestnut-leaved oak, a type of oak tree.