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)
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 力 represents the sound.
1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
2The sound half力 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayflesh
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 肋? 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 肋?
Decomposition of 肋
IDS Structure⿰⺼力
肋Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
力Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
Complete the Sentence
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 lèi zài yú tā bù dǒng dé fàng quán。
Horton's Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.
