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肋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
肋
lèi
ribs; chest
n, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #10295, Very Hard
肋
lèi
rib
unknown, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #10295, Very Hard
肋
lèi
Taiwan pr. [le4]
unknown, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #10295, Very Hard
肋
lē
ribs; chest
n, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #10295, Very Hard
肋
lē
rib
unknown, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #10295, Very Hard
肋
lē
Taiwan pr. [le4]
unknown, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #10295, Very Hard
lē(le1)le
primary
T1
1ribs; chest
2rib
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March 24, 2026
肋lē(le1)
The character 肋 (lē) refers to the ribs, which are the curved bones that form the ribcage in the human body. It can be used in medical contexts or when discussing anatomy, as well as in idiomatic expressions related to protection or support.
Strokes6Radical⺼Frequency#10295DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese medicine, the health of the ribs is considered important for protecting vital organs like the heart and lungs, reflecting a holistic view of body wellness. The concept of rib protection is often linked to traditional beliefs about maintaining balance within the body.
Memory tip
Think of the character 肋 as a skeleton with ribs. The left side (肉) represents flesh, while the right side (可) is like a ribcage enclosing something precious, indicating protection. Imagine a ribcage that 'lends' strength to the body, which can help you remember its pronunciation 'lē'.
Meanings of 肋
lē(le1)
primary
1ribs; chest
2rib
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 肋
肋Simplified
6Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肋
Podcast: 肋
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AI study notes for 肋
Quick Contrast
肋 (lē) vs 骨 (gǔ) — use 肋 specifically for ribs, while 骨 refers to bones in general.
Usage Notes
This word is used primarily in medical or biological contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with the character for 'bone' (骨), which specifically refers to bones in general. Remember to use the correct tone (lē) to avoid confusion with other characters.
HSK Study Tips
While 肋 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other body-related terms that may be encountered at higher levels. Focus on recognizing this character in contexts discussing health or anatomy, which can help build your medical vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 肋 (ribs) with 胸 (chest). For example, saying '我有肋痛' to mean 'I have chest pain' is incorrect; it should be '我有胸痛'. Be careful with the context in which you use it.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肋
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 肋 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.
肋 = ⺼ + 力. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 肋
IDS Structure⿰⺼力
肋Full character
=
⺼rou4
left
力Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 肋?
How to say ribs; chest in Chinese
“ribs; chest” in Chinese is肋lèi
The character 肋 (lē) refers to the ribs, which are the curved bones that form the ribcage in the human body. It can be used in medical contexts or when discussing anatomy, as well as in idiomatic expressions related to protection or support.
When to use 肋
This word is used primarily in medical or biological contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with the character for 'bone' (骨), which specifically refers to bones in general. Remember to use the correct tone (lē) to avoid confusion with other characters.
肋 or something close to it
肋 (lē) vs 骨 (gǔ) — use 肋 specifically for ribs, while 骨 refers to bones in general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 肋 (ribs) with 胸 (chest). For example, saying '我有肋痛' to mean 'I have chest pain' is incorrect; it should be '我有胸痛'. Be careful with the context in which you use it.
Write 肋
肋
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Practice writing 肋 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 肋
肋 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 3 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.
霍顿的软____在于他不懂得放权。
Horton's Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.
Example sentences for 肋 (10)
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1
霍顿的软肋在于他不懂得放权。
huò dùn de ruǎn lē zàiyú tā bù dǒngde fàng quán。
Horton's Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.
