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锂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
锂lǐlithiumnz, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #22509, Very Hard
锂lǐlithium (chemistry)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #22509, Very Hard
lǐ(li3)li T3
  1. 1lithium
  2. 2lithium (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026

锂(鋰)lǐ(li3)

锂 (lǐ) refers to lithium, a chemical element commonly used in batteries and various industrial applications. In scientific contexts, it is important to understand this element's properties and its role in technology, particularly in energy storage.

Strokes12Radical钅Frequency#22509DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Lithium plays a significant role in China's push towards electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions, reflecting the country's commitment to sustainable technology.

Memory tip

Imagine a small 'Li' battery powering a tiny robot. The character 锂 has the radical '金' (metal), indicating its metallic nature, combined with '里' (inside), reminding us that lithium is often found inside batteries.

Meanings of 锂

lǐ(li3)
1lithium
2lithium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 锂

锂Simplified
鋰Traditional
12Strokes
钅Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 锂

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Podcast: 锂

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AI study notes for 锂

Usage Notes

When discussing lithium in a scientific context, ensure you use the term 锂 consistently, as mixing it with informal language may lead to misunderstandings. Be aware of its pronunciation; the third tone can be tricky, so practice saying it clearly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 锂 is not on the HSK list, it connects to the study of elements and materials in HSK vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in science-related contexts, which may include collocations with other chemical terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 锂 with other similar-sounding words, like 理 (lǐ, meaning 'reason'). Remember, 锂 specifically refers to lithium in chemistry. A common mistake is writing it incorrectly as '里' instead of 锂.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 锂

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Etymology of 锂

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 里 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鋰.

Memory hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)钅
+
Phonetic (sound)里
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

锂 = 钅 + 里. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 锂

IDS Structure⿰钅里
锂Full character
=
钅jin1
left
里li3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 锂?

How to say lithium in Chinese

“lithium” in Chinese is锂lǐ

锂 (lǐ) refers to lithium, a chemical element commonly used in batteries and various industrial applications. In scientific contexts, it is important to understand this element's properties and its role in technology, particularly in energy storage.

When to use 锂

When discussing lithium in a scientific context, ensure you use the term 锂 consistently, as mixing it with informal language may lead to misunderstandings. Be aware of its pronunciation; the third tone can be tricky, so practice saying it clearly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 锂 with other similar-sounding words, like 理 (lǐ, meaning 'reason'). Remember, 锂 specifically refers to lithium in chemistry. A common mistake is writing it incorrectly as '里' instead of 锂.

Write 锂

锂

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

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Word Family of 锂

Words containing this character2
锂lǐlithium (chemistry)鋰
锂电池lithium battery鋰電池
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 锂

What does 锂电池 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 锂

锂 means lithium, which is a chemical element.

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