unknown, 10 strokes, radical 石, rank #86997, Very Hard
lì(li4) T4
1gravel, pebbles
2small stone
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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 砾
砾Simplified
礫Traditional
10Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 砾
Podcast: 砾
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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
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Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 乐 represents the sound. Simplified form of 礫.
1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
2The sound half乐 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaystone
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 砾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 砾?
Decomposition of 砾
IDS Structure⿰石乐
砾Full Character
=
石dan4
left
乐Le4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
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Practice writing 砾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Complete the Sentence
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.
Example Sentences for 砾 (10)
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1
两个小伙子正在松散的砾石路面上赛摩托车。
liǎng gè xiǎo huǒ zǐ zhèng zài sōng sàn de lì shí lù miàn shàng sài mó tuō chē。
Two young men were racing motorcycles on the loose gravel.
2
无法把所有的沙砾都清除干净。
wú fǎ bǎ suǒ yǒu de shā lì dū qīng chú gān jìng。
You'll never quite get rid of every last bit of grit.
3
成千上万的尸体仍然被埋在碎石瓦砾下。
chéng qiān shàng wàn de shī tǐ réng rán bèi mái zài suì shí wǎ lì xià。
Thousands of bodies are still buried under the rubble.
4
这座14世纪的大教堂变成了一堆瓦砾。
zhè zuò14 14 shì jì de dà jiào táng biàn chéng le yī duī wǎ。
The fourteenth century cathedral was reduced to a mass of rubble.
5
砂岩和砾岩分别是砂和砾石固结的产物.
shā yán hé lì yán fēn bié shì shā hé lì shí gù jié de chǎn wù.
Sandstone and conglomerate are the consolidated equivalent of sand and gravel.
6
水从砂砾地上奔流而过。
shuǐ cóng shā lì dì shàng bēn liú ér guò。
Water runs through the gravelly soil very quickly.
7
含矿主岩整合地上覆于硅质燧石角砾石带之上.
hán kuàng zhǔ yán zhěng hé dì shàng fù yú guī zhì suì shí jiǎo lì shí dài zhī shàng.
The host rock conformably overlies a band of siliceous chertybrecia.
