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March 24, 2026
立lì(Li4)
The character 立 (lì) primarily means 'to stand' or 'to establish.' It is commonly used in contexts related to setting something up, such as establishing a rule or institution. The character can convey a sense of immediacy or promptness when combined with other words, emphasizing quick action or presence.
Strokes5Radical立Frequency#3874DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of standing or establishing is often linked to authority and respect, such as the establishment of a family or a business. It reflects the importance of having a firm foundation and presence in society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing tall and proud like a tree (the radical for standing). The character 立 looks like a person with legs spread apart, symbolizing stability and presence. Think of 'lì' as 'let's immediately stand up!'
Meanings of 立
lì(Li4)
1to stand
2to set up
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About 立
立Simplified
5Strokes
立Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3874Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 立
Podcast: 立
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AI Study Notes for 立
Quick Contrast
立 (lì) vs 站 (zhàn) — use 立 for establishing or setting up something, while 站 specifically means to stand in a physical sense.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone as it is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone). Common collocations include 立刻 (lìkè - immediately) and 立法 (lìfǎ - to establish laws). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts without proper context, as it can sound abrupt.
HSK Study Tips
While 立 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to foundational vocabulary about actions and states. Focus on its various usages in phrases and its role in compound words to enhance your understanding of Mandarin structure.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 立 (lì) with other similar characters like 立刻 (lìkè) and may use it incorrectly in phrases. For example, saying '我立去商店' (Wǒ lì qù shāngdiàn - I stand to go to the store) instead of '我立刻去商店' (Wǒ lìkè qù shāngdiàn - I will go to the store immediately).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 立
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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.
The character 立 (lì) primarily means 'to stand' or 'to establish.' It is commonly used in contexts related to setting something up, such as establishing a rule or institution. The character can convey a sense of immediacy or promptness when combined with other words, emphasizing quick action or presence.
When to use 立
Be cautious with the tone as it is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone). Common collocations include 立刻 (lìkè - immediately) and 立法 (lìfǎ - to establish laws). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts without proper context, as it can sound abrupt.
立 or something close to it
立 (lì) vs 站 (zhàn) — use 立 for establishing or setting up something, while 站 specifically means to stand in a physical sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 立 (lì) with other similar characters like 立刻 (lìkè) and may use it incorrectly in phrases. For example, saying '我立去商店' (Wǒ lì qù shāngdiàn - I stand to go to the store) instead of '我立刻去商店' (Wǒ lìkè qù shāngdiàn - I will go to the store immediately).
Write 立
立
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Grammar Patterns of 立
立 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The royalties enabled the inventor to re-establish himself in business.
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Cultural Notes for 立
💡Did you know?
The character 立 is composed of two parts: a man (人) and a horizontal line (一), symbolizing a person standing straight on the ground, representing stability and establishment in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 立
Compounds73
意Yi4Italy
亲qin1parent
位wei4position
拉la1to pull
音yin1sound
站zhan4station
竟jing4unexpectedly
章Zhang1surname Zhang
童Tong2surname Tong
垃la1see 垃圾[lā jī]
辛Xin1surname Xin
竞jing4to compete
端duan1end
竭jie2to exhaust
粒li4grain
泣qi4to sob
竖shu4variant of 豎
笠li4bamboo hat; bamboo covering
妾qie4concubine
翌yi4bright; dawn, daybreak; tomorrow
昱yu4bright, dazzling; sunlight
靖Jing4to pacify, to appease; calm, peaceful
竜
竣jun4to terminate, to finish, to end; to quit
飒sa4bleak; melancholy; the howl of the wind
柆
翊yi4flying; to assist, to help; to respect
竦song3to revere, to respect; to be in awe of
咅pou3to spit out
暜
砬la2boulder; obelisk
竑
竡
苙
鉝
鴗
噾
岦
攱
湇
竌
竍
竎
竏
竐
竓
竔
竕
竗
竘qu3
竚
竛
竝
竢
竤
竧
竨
竩
竪
竫
竬
竮
竰
竱
竲
竳
竴
竵
翋
趇
閚
雴
颯sa4bleak; melancholy; the howl of the wind
Words Containing This Character20
建立jiànlìto establish
立刻lìkèforthwith
立即lìjíimmediately
独立dúlìindependent獨立
成立chénglìto establish
立lìto stand
设立shèlìto set up設立
立场lìchǎngposition立場
树立shùlìto set up樹立
起立to stand
立法to enact laws
立马at once立馬
确立quèlìto establish確立
立案to register (to an official organism)
立体lìtǐsolid立體
创立chuànglìto establish創立
州立state-run
公立gōnglìpublic (e.g. school, hospital)
中立zhōnglìneutral
站立zhànlìto stand
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 立
What does 意 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 立
Yes, 立 (lì) can also be a surname in China. While not as common as some other surnames, it is still recognized. If you encounter someone with this surname, it can signify their family heritage.
Some common phrases that include 立 (lì) are 立刻 (lìkè), meaning 'immediately,' and 立志 (lìzhì), which means 'to set one's ambition.' These phrases show how the character is used in everyday language to convey urgency or determination.
立 (lì) means to set up, establish, or lay down. It can also refer to something being drawn up or done at once. The character is commonly used in various contexts, such as in the phrase 立刻 (lìkè), meaning 'immediately.'
You can use 立 (lì) in sentences to express actions like establishing or setting something up. For example, you might say '我立了一个计划' (Wǒ lìle yīgè jìhuà), which means 'I set up a plan.' This character can also imply immediacy, as in '我立刻去' (Wǒ lìkè qù) meaning 'I will go at once.'
Common phrases include 立刻 (lìkè - immediately) and 立法 (lìfǎ - to legislate).
Yes, it can also refer to a surname, Li (李), and is used in various contexts to imply setting up or establishing something.
You can say '我们要立一个新规章' (Wǒmen yào lì yí gè xīn guīzhāng - We need to establish a new regulation).
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