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梨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
梨
lí
pear
HSK 5, n, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #8388, Hard
梨
lí
pear; opera
HSK 5, n, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #8388, Hard
lí(li2)li T2
1pear
2pear; opera
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March 24, 2026
梨lí(li2)
The character 梨 (lí) refers to the fruit 'pear,' which is a popular sweet fruit in Chinese cuisine. It is often associated with refreshing qualities and is commonly used in cooking and desserts. The term is also used metaphorically in literature and idioms, reflecting its cultural significance.
Strokes11Radical木Frequency#8388DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, pears are often given as gifts during festivals and are considered symbols of good health and longevity. They are also used in traditional medicine for their cooling properties.
Memory tip
Imagine a pear hanging on a tree shaped like a letter 'L' and think of it as a 'leafy' fruit. The 'L' sound in 'lí' can help you remember its pronunciation while visualizing the juicy, round shape of a pear.
Meanings of 梨
lí(li2)
1pear
2pear; opera
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 梨 means.
About 梨
梨Simplified
11Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8388Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 梨
Podcast: 梨
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AI study notes for 梨
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 梨 with similar fruits, so be careful not to use it interchangeably with other fruit names. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but when discussing food, it often appears with descriptors like 'sweet' or 'fresh' (甜 or 新鲜).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 梨 connects well with other food-related vocabulary. Focus on memorizing its usage in context, particularly in phrases related to eating, cooking, and shopping.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 梨 (lí) with 里 (lǐ), which means 'inside.' For example, saying '我在梨' (Wǒ zài lí) instead of '我在里' (Wǒ zài lǐ) to mean 'I am inside.' Always pay attention to the tones to avoid misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 梨
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Knowing 梨 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.
梨 = 木 + 利. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 梨
IDS Structure⿱利木
梨Full character
=
利Li4
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 梨?
How to say pear in Chinese
“pear” in Chinese is梨lí
The character 梨 (lí) refers to the fruit 'pear,' which is a popular sweet fruit in Chinese cuisine. It is often associated with refreshing qualities and is commonly used in cooking and desserts. The term is also used metaphorically in literature and idioms, reflecting its cultural significance.
When to use 梨
Learners often confuse 梨 with similar fruits, so be careful not to use it interchangeably with other fruit names. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but when discussing food, it often appears with descriptors like 'sweet' or 'fresh' (甜 or 新鲜).
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is confusing 梨 (lí) with 里 (lǐ), which means 'inside.' For example, saying '我在梨' (Wǒ zài lí) instead of '我在里' (Wǒ zài lǐ) to mean 'I am inside.' Always pay attention to the tones to avoid misunderstandings.
Write 梨
梨
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Grammar patterns of 梨
梨 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 2 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.
加一点蜂蜜或浓缩苹果汁或____汁，让菜带点甜味。
Sweeten dishes sparingly with honey, or con-centrated apple or pear juice.
So Aunt Xue and her children moved into Pear Fragrance Court.
10
鳄梨呈现典型的叶色褪绿及营养生长减弱.
è lí chéngxiàn diǎnxíng de xié sè tuì lǜ jí yíngyǎng shēngzhǎng jiǎnruò.
The avocado shows a typical loss of green color and a reduction in vegetative growth.
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Cultural Notes for 梨
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, pears are commonly associated with fresh fruit salads and desserts, while in Chinese culture, they hold a broader significance in health and wellness.
Word Family of 梨
Compounds2
蟍lí
鏫lí
Words containing this character13
梨lípear
鸭梨yālíChinese white pear (Pyrus × bretschneideri)鴨梨
雪梨xuělíSydney, capital of New South Wales, Australia (Tw)
梨子lízipear
凤梨fènglípineapple鳳梨
梨树líshùLishu county in Siping 四平, Jilin梨樹
梨花带雨líhuādàiyǔfig. tear-stained face of a beauty梨花帶雨
鳄梨èlíavocado (Persea americana)鱷梨
梨树县líshùxiànLishu county in Siping 四平, Jilin梨樹縣
杜梨dùlíbirchleaved pear (Pyrus betulaefolia)
棠梨tánglíbirch-leaved pear (Pyrus betulaefolia)
梨园子弟líyuánzǐdìChinese opera performers梨園子弟
梨树区líshùqūLishu district of Jixi city 雞西|鸡西[Jīxī], Heilongjiang梨樹區
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 梨
What does 鸭梨 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 梨
The measure word for 梨 (lí) is 个 (gè). When counting pears, you would say '一个梨' (yī gè lí), which means 'one pear.'
Yes, there are idioms that include 梨, such as '梨花带雨' (lí huā dài yǔ), which describes a beautiful scene often related to sadness. This phrase reflects the cultural significance of pears in literature and art.
梨 (lí) means 'pear' in Chinese. It refers to the fruit that is sweet and juicy, commonly consumed in various forms, including fresh, dried, or cooked.
You can use 梨 in a sentence by saying something like '我喜欢吃梨' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī lí), which means 'I like to eat pears.' This shows how to express your preference for the fruit.
The correct measure word for 梨 is 个 (gè), so you would say 一个梨 (yī gè lí) for 'a pear.'
Yes, 梨 is used in idiomatic expressions, such as '梨花带雨' (lí huā dài yǔ), which describes someone who appears beautiful yet sorrowful.
梨 is pronounced with the second tone (lí), which rises in pitch, distinguishing it from other similar-sounding words.
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