Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
砾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
砾
lì
gravel, pebbles
n, 10 strokes, radical 石, rank #86997, Very Hard
砾
lì
small stone
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 石, rank #86997, Very Hard
lì(li4)li T4
1gravel, pebbles
2small stone
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
砾(礫)lì(li4)
The character 砾 (lì) refers to small stones or gravel, often found in construction or as part of landscaping. It is commonly used in contexts related to building materials, nature, or gardening, where the presence of small rocks is significant.
Strokes10Radical石Frequency#86997DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese landscaping, gravel plays a key role in creating serene rock gardens (枯山水), which symbolize harmony and simplicity, reflecting cultural values of nature and tranquility.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'little' rock (lì sounds like 'little') that you can easily pick up and throw. Visualize a pile of gravel that looks like tiny pebbles, scattered around a construction site, to help remember its meaning.
Meanings of 砾
lì(li4)
1gravel, pebbles
2small stone
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 砾 means.
About 砾
砾Simplified
礫Traditional
10Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 砾
Podcast: 砾
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 砾
Quick Contrast
碎石 (suì shí, crushed stone) — use 砾 (lì) for small, loose stones in natural settings, while 碎石 (suì shí) refers to processed or crushed stones used in construction.
Usage Notes
When using 砾, it's important to remember that it typically refers to small stones rather than larger rocks. It is more formal in tone and might not be used in casual conversation. Common collocations include 砾石 (gravel stone) and 砾土 (gravel soil).
HSK Study Tips
Though 砾 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to other words about nature and materials at similar levels, such as 石 (shí, stone) and 土 (tǔ, earth). Focus on recognizing it in context and using it accurately in descriptions of landscapes or construction.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 砾 with 石 (shí, stone), using them interchangeably. Remember that 砾 is for small stones, while 石 refers to stones in general.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 砾
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 砾, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 砾 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 砾?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 砾 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
砾 = 石 + 乐. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 砾
IDS Structure⿰石乐
砾Full character
=
石dan4
left
乐Le4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 砾?
How to say gravel, pebbles in Chinese
“gravel, pebbles” in Chinese is砾lì
The character 砾 (lì) refers to small stones or gravel, often found in construction or as part of landscaping. It is commonly used in contexts related to building materials, nature, or gardening, where the presence of small rocks is significant.
When to use 砾
When using 砾, it's important to remember that it typically refers to small stones rather than larger rocks. It is more formal in tone and might not be used in casual conversation. Common collocations include 砾石 (gravel stone) and 砾土 (gravel soil).
砾 or something close to it
碎石 (suì shí, crushed stone) — use 砾 (lì) for small, loose stones in natural settings, while 碎石 (suì shí) refers to processed or crushed stones used in construction.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 砾 with 石 (shí, stone), using them interchangeably. Remember that 砾 is for small stones, while 石 refers to stones in general.
Write 砾
砾
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 砾 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 砾
砾 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 2 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
两个小伙子正在松散的____石路面上赛摩托车。
Two young men were racing motorcycles on the loose gravel.
