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罹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
sorrow, grief; to incur, to meet withzg, 16 strokes, radical 罒, rank #47199, Very Hard
happen tounknown, 16 strokes, radical 罒, rank #47199, Very Hard
suffer fromunknown, 16 strokes, radical 罒, rank #47199, Very Hard
(li2) T2
  1. 1sorrow, grief; to incur, to meet with
  2. 2happen to
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March 24, 2026

(li2)

The character 罹 (lí) primarily conveys the concepts of experiencing sorrow or grief and incurring misfortune. It is often used in contexts where someone faces emotional suffering or encounters adverse situations, emphasizing the weight of such experiences.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#47199DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 罹 is often associated with traditional mourning practices and literature that reflect on loss and sorrow, emphasizing the importance of expressing grief.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person wearing a '罹' (lí) mask, representing sorrow, crying as they walk through a storm. The character combines the radical for 'speech' (言) with the radical for 'to suffer' (罒), symbolizing how words can express deep grief.

Meanings of 罹

(li2)
1sorrow, grief; to incur, to meet with
2happen to
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 罹

Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 罹

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AI Study Notes for 罹

Quick Contrast

遭 (zāo) — use 罹 (lí) when focusing on emotional suffering, while 遭 (zāo) emphasizes the act of encountering misfortune without the emotional connotation.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person wearing a '罹' (lí) mask, representing sorrow, crying as they walk through a storm. The character combines the radical for 'speech' (言) with the radical for 'to suffer' (罒), symbolizing how words can express deep grief.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 罹 with other characters related to suffering, such as 疼 (téng) or 痛 (tòng), which are more about physical pain. This character is typically used in formal contexts, such as literature or discussions about loss. Be mindful of the tone, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 罹 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with emotions and suffering terms at higher levels. Focus on its usage in literary contexts to enhance understanding of emotional vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 罹 is often associated with traditional mourning practices and literature that reflect on loss and sorrow, emphasizing the importance of expressing grief.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 罹 in casual conversations, where more straightforward terms like 遇到 (yù dào) for 'encounter' may be more appropriate. Always remember that 罹 has a heavier emotional weight.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 罹

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Etymology of 罹

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

heart

Semantic (meaning)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 罹?

Decomposition of 罹

IDS Structure⿱罒惟
Full Character
=
wang3
top
wei2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 罹?

Write 罹

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 罹

罹 carries 3 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 3

Complete the Sentence

他是宗派暴力中的第5个____难者。

He was the fifth person to be killed in sectarian violence.

Example Sentences for 罹 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他是宗派暴力中的第5个罹难者。

tā shì zōng pài bào lì zhōng de dì5 5 gè lí nán。

He was the fifth person to be killed in sectarian violence.
2
简得知自己罹癌那一年才25岁。

jiǎn dé zhī zì jǐ lí ái nà yī nián cái25 25。

Jane was just 25 when she learned she had cancer.

Cultural Notes for 罹

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 罹 is often associated with traditional mourning practices and literature that reflect on loss and sorrow, emphasizing the importance of expressing grief.

Word Family of 罹

Words Containing This Character4
罹难to be killed罹難
sorrow
罹患to fall ill
罹祸to suffer a disaster罹禍
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 罹难 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 罹

You might encounter phrases like 罹难 (lí nàn), which means to suffer disaster or tragedy.