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流利 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
流利liúlìfluentHSK 4, n, 17 strokes, rank #17340, Medium
liúlì(liu2li4) T2
  1. 1fluent
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March 24, 2026

流利liúlì(liu2li4)

流利 (liúlì) means to speak or write smoothly and effortlessly, often used to describe someone's proficiency in a language. It conveys the idea of fluency that comes from practice and familiarity, making communication clear and effective.

Strokes17Frequency#17340DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being fluent in Mandarin is often seen as a sign of education and respect. It plays an important role in social interactions and professional environments, where effective communication is highly valued.

Memory Tip

Imagine a river (流) flowing smoothly and effortlessly, representing how fluently someone can speak. The character 利 (lì) looks like a pair of scissors, which can cut through language barriers, enhancing your communication skills.

Meanings of 流利

liúlì(liu2li4)
1fluent
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 流利

流利Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#17340Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 流利

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Podcast: 流利

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AI Study Notes for 流利

Quick Contrast

流畅 (liúchàng) — use 流利 (liúlì) when emphasizing ease of expression, while 流畅 (liúchàng) suggests smoothness in a broader context, such as writing or performance.

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 流利 in contexts involving language skills; it is typically used in formal or academic settings. Common collocations include 流利的中文 (fluent Chinese) or 流利地说 (speak fluently). Avoid saying 流利 for informal speech, as it may sound overly formal.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 流利 is essential for expressing language proficiency. Students should focus on using it in context with other language-related vocabulary, such as 说 (speak) and 写 (write), to enhance their communication skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 流利 to describe basic language skills. For example, saying '我中文流利' (My Chinese is fluent) may be incorrect if they are still learning. Instead, use '我正在学习中文' (I am learning Chinese) for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 流利

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Component Characters

流liúto flow
HSK 410 strokes氵
View full entry
利lìsharp
HSK 67 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say fluent in Chinese

“fluent” in Chinese is流利liúlì

流利 (liúlì) means to speak or write smoothly and effortlessly, often used to describe someone's proficiency in a language. It conveys the idea of fluency that comes from practice and familiarity, making communication clear and effective.

When to use 流利

Be careful to use 流利 in contexts involving language skills; it is typically used in formal or academic settings. Common collocations include 流利的中文 (fluent Chinese) or 流利地说 (speak fluently). Avoid saying 流利 for informal speech, as it may sound overly formal.

流利 or something close to it

流畅 (liúchàng) — use 流利 (liúlì) when emphasizing ease of expression, while 流畅 (liúchàng) suggests smoothness in a broader context, such as writing or performance.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 流利 to describe basic language skills. For example, saying '我中文流利' (My Chinese is fluent) may be incorrect if they are still learning. Instead, use '我正在学习中文' (I am learning Chinese) for clarity.

Write 流利

流
利

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 流利

流利 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). 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

他弟弟会说中文,说得很____。

His younger brother can speak Chinese — speaks it fluently.

Example Sentences for 流利 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
亚历克斯快到7岁时才能流利地阅读。

yà lì kè sī kuài dào7 7 suì shí cái néng liú lì dì yuè。

Alex didn't read fluently till he was nearly seven.
2
他略懂一点德语, 但说得不流利.

tā lüè dǒng yī diǎn dé yǔ, , dàn shuō dé bù liú.

He has some acquaintance with German, but doesn't speak it fluently.
3
她的法语和德语讲得流利,也会说一点意大利语。

tā de fǎ yǔ hé dé yǔ jiǎng dé liú lì, , yě huì shuō yī diǎn yì dà lì。

She's fluent in French and German. She also speaks a little Italian.
4
她讲一口流利地道的英语。

tā jiǎng yī kǒu liú lì dì dào de yīng yǔ。

She speaks fluent and idiomatic English.
5
玛丽经过三年的学习,现在可以流利地用汉语交流。

Mǎlì jīngguò sān nián de xuéxí, xiànzài kěyǐ liúlì de yòng Hànyǔ jiāoliú.

After three years of studying, Mary can now communicate fluently in Chinese.
6
他在这里住了五年,所以他的西班牙语说得非常流利。

Tā zài zhèlǐ zhù le wǔ nián, suǒyǐ tā de Xībānyá yǔ shuō de fēicháng liúlì.

He has lived here for five years, so he speaks Spanish very fluently.
7
经过多年的训练,他已经能够流利地用俄语进行商务谈判。

Jīngguò duōnián de xùnliàn, tā yǐjīng nénggòu liúlì de yòng éyǔ jìnxíng shāngwù tánpàn.

After years of training, he can now conduct business negotiations in Russian fluently.
8
即使在紧张的场合,他仍然能保持流利的表达。

Jíshǐ zài jǐnzhāng de chǎnghé, tā réngrán néng bǎochí liúlì de biǎodá.

Even in tense situations, he can still maintain fluent expression.
9
她的英语流利程度让人惊讶,几乎听不出她是外国人。

Tā de yīngyǔ liúlì chéngdù ràng rén jīngyà, jīhū tīng bù chū tā shì wàiguórén.

Her fluency in English is astonishing; it's almost impossible to tell she's a foreigner.
10
为了达到流利的水平,他每天都花几个小时练习口语。

Wèile dádào liúlì de shuǐpíng, tā měitiān dōu huā jǐ gè xiǎoshí liànxí kǒuyǔ.

To achieve fluency, he spends several hours practicing speaking every day.

Frequently Asked Questions about 流利

No, 流利 can describe both spoken and written fluency.

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