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腊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
腊
xī
December; year's end sacrifice; dried meat
t, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #22538, Very Hard
腊
xī
12th lunar month
unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #22538, Very Hard
腊
xī
also pr. [xi2]
unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #22538, Very Hard
腊
xī
old variant of 臘|腊[la4]
unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #22538, Very Hard
腊
là
December; year's end sacrifice; dried meat
t, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #22538, Very Hard
腊
là
12th lunar month
unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #22538, Very Hard
腊
là
also pr. [xi2]
unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #22538, Very Hard
腊
là
old variant of 臘|腊[la4]
unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #22538, Very Hard
là(la4)la
primary
T4
1December; year's end sacrifice; dried meat
212th lunar month
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March 24, 2026
腊là(la4)
The character 腊 (là) primarily refers to the twelfth lunar month in the traditional Chinese calendar, often associated with the end of the year. It also signifies the practice of sacrificial offerings and the preparation of dried meats, particularly during festivals. In some contexts, it can refer to the old variant of the character 臘, which is less commonly used today.
Strokes12Radical⺼Frequency#22538DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
腊 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, particularly in the context of the Laba Festival, which marks the beginning of the preparations for the Lunar New Year, emphasizing family gatherings and the importance of food in celebrations.
Memory tip
Imagine a large, festive banquet in December where people are preparing dried meats for a sacrifice. The character 腊 looks like a person offering something (the horizontal line at the top) while the 'meat' radical (月) symbolizes the food being prepared, reminding you of the end-of-year celebrations and the pronunciation 'là'.
Meanings of 腊
là(la4)
primary
1December; year's end sacrifice; dried meat
212th lunar month
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 腊
腊Simplified
12Strokes
⺼Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 腊
Podcast: 腊
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AI study notes for 腊
Usage Notes
腊 is often used in specific cultural contexts, such as during the festival of Laba, when people make special dishes. Be cautious of the tone; the character is pronounced with a falling tone (là), which can change the meaning if pronounced incorrectly. It can collocate with words like 腊肉 (dried meat) and 腊月 (twelfth month).
HSK Study Tips
While 腊 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other time-related words. Focus on understanding its cultural significance and how it relates to traditional Chinese festivals, which can help you remember its meaning and usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腊 (là) with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, mixing it up with 脚 (jiǎo, foot) can cause confusion in context; remember that 腊 specifically relates to the lunar month and food preparation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腊
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How to say December; year's end sacrifice; dried meat in Chinese
“December; year's end sacrifice; dried meat” in Chinese is腊xī
The character 腊 (là) primarily refers to the twelfth lunar month in the traditional Chinese calendar, often associated with the end of the year. It also signifies the practice of sacrificial offerings and the preparation of dried meats, particularly during festivals. In some contexts, it can refer to the old variant of the character 臘, which is less commonly used today.
When to use 腊
腊 is often used in specific cultural contexts, such as during the festival of Laba, when people make special dishes. Be cautious of the tone; the character is pronounced with a falling tone (là), which can change the meaning if pronounced incorrectly. It can collocate with words like 腊肉 (dried meat) and 腊月 (twelfth month).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 腊 (là) with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, mixing it up with 脚 (jiǎo, foot) can cause confusion in context; remember that 腊 specifically relates to the lunar month and food preparation.
Write 腊
腊
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Practice writing 腊 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 腊
腊 carries 4 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们认为古代希____罗马是知识的重要发源地。
They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning.
Example sentences for 腊 (10)
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1
他们认为古代希腊罗马是知识的重要发源地。
tāmen rènwéi gǔdài xī là luō mǎ shì zhīshi de zhòngyào fāyuándì。
They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning.
