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耒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
耒lěiplowns, 6 strokes, radical 耒
lěi(lei3)lei T3
  1. 1plow
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March 24, 2026

耒lěi(lei3)

The character 耒 (lěi) refers to a traditional agricultural tool used for plowing the earth. It symbolizes the act of farming and is often associated with cultivation and labor in agricultural contexts. This character highlights the importance of agriculture in Chinese culture and history.

Strokes6Radical耒
Cultural note

In ancient China, agriculture was a cornerstone of society, and tools like the plow (耒) were vital for sustaining the population. This character is often found in historical texts that discuss the agrarian lifestyle and philosophies of Confucianism, which emphasized the importance of farming.

Memory tip

Imagine a farmer using a plow (耒) to prepare the fields for planting. The character looks like a simplified depiction of a plow, with the horizontal line representing the blade and the vertical line as the handle. Remembering it as 'lěi' can be linked to the sound of 'lay' as in laying the ground for crops.

Meanings of 耒

lěi(lei3)
1plow
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 耒

耒Simplified
6Strokes
耒Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 耒

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AI study notes for 耒

Usage Notes

耒 is not commonly used in modern language outside of historical or literary contexts. It appears more frequently in compound words related to farming. Be cautious with its tone; using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 耒 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for learners interested in agricultural terms or classical texts. Connecting it with other farming-related vocabulary can enhance understanding of the cultural significance of agriculture in China.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 耒 with the character 来 (lái), which means 'to come.' Remember that 耒 relates to agriculture, while 来 is about movement or arrival.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 耒

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Etymology of 耒

Formation typePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a farming tool used to make furrows in the ground.

Memory hint

The handle of a plow

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 耒?

Decomposition of 耒

IDS Structure⿻丰八
耒Full character
=
丰feng1
outer
八ba1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 耒?

How to say plow in Chinese

“plow” in Chinese is耒lěi

The character 耒 (lěi) refers to a traditional agricultural tool used for plowing the earth. It symbolizes the act of farming and is often associated with cultivation and labor in agricultural contexts. This character highlights the importance of agriculture in Chinese culture and history.

When to use 耒

耒 is not commonly used in modern language outside of historical or literary contexts. It appears more frequently in compound words related to farming. Be cautious with its tone; using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with other characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 耒 with the character 来 (lái), which means 'to come.' Remember that 耒 relates to agriculture, while 来 is about movement or arrival.

Write 耒

耒

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

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Word Family of 耒

Words containing this character4
耒lěiplow
耒阳Leiyang county level city in Hengyang 衡陽|衡阳[Héng​yáng], Hunan耒陽
耒阳市Leiyang county level city in Hengyang 衡陽|衡阳[Héng​yáng], Hunan耒陽市
耒耜plow
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 耒

What does 耒阳 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 耒

It primarily refers to the plow, an agricultural tool, but is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

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