Featured image for 俐 lì Dictionary entry displaying the word's hanzi, pinyin and the Mandarin Temple logo and tagline.

Pronunciation

To complete this step you need to listen to the audio pronunciation of the word once.

Meaning

Learn the Pinyin Pronunciation and 4 English Translations of the word .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

Pīnyīn Pronunciation
lì | li4
English translation
clever
smooth; active; clever, sharp

Learn the Chinese word in 8 easy steps:

1
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the first learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
2
Unlocks in 48h after completing the first learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
3
Unlocks in 7 days after completing the second learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
Slide 1 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 2 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 3 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

About

Read some general information about the Chinese word .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Number of strokes

9

Traditional form

Contains the radical

rén

Part of speech

Non-morpheme / 非语素字 Fēi yǔsù zì

Learning hint

person

Etymology of

Familiarize yourself with the origin and historical aspects of the Chinese word .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Type

pictophonetic

Positional decomposition

亻利

Semantic compound

rén

Phonetic compound

Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. rén represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Write it!

Practice your Chinese writing skills and learn precisely where and when to draw every stroke of the
Chinese word .
     Press the Show Strokes button to see the strokes and their order and hit Start Drawing when you are
ready to practice.

To complete this step you need to write the word once.

Spread the word

Example sentences using

Broaden your vocabulary by interacting with 3 audio-assisted sentences using the Chinese word in different contexts.

To complete this step you need to listen to each of the five Chinese sentences at least once. and scroll down.

Jiào 聪明伶俐 cōng ming líng lì de 学生 xuésheng hěn 轻松 qīngsōng .

It is easy to teach smart students.

zài 这群过分 guòfèn 自信 zìxìn , 学识 xué shí 渊博 yuān bó , 伶牙俐齿 líng yá lì chǐ de rén 中间 zhōngjiān , zǒng 仿 fǎng 觉得 juéde 自己 zìjǐ 过于 guòyú 懒散 lǎn sǎn , bèn 头笨 nǎo de .

Among assertive, learned, or eloquent people, she seemed to feel her dowdiness and insufficiency.

shì 不错 bù cuò de 小伙子 xiǎohuǒzi ——聪明伶俐 cōng ming líng lì 而且 érqiě 性格开朗

He was a nice lad — bright and with a sunny disposition.

Words with

Explore 6 words and sayings that include the Chinese character in their composition.

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

FrequencySimplifiedMeaningTraditional
伶俐 línglì clever伶俐 línglì
巩俐 Gǒng Lì Gong Li (1965-), PRC female film star鞏俐
聪明伶俐 cōng ming líng lì clever and quick-witted聰明伶俐
伶牙俐齿 líng yá lì chǐ having the gift of the gab伶牙俐齒
clever
麻俐 má li swift麻俐 má li

Decomposition & Compounds

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

Decomposition

See the 4 Chinese characters that make up and their own compounds.

Recommended Books for Learning Mandarin Chinese

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

A Boy and his Dragon

Once upon a time, a Little Boy was living in a village near the woods. One day, a Dragon came out of the cave secluded in the middle of the forest and began to relentlessly follow the Little Boy, always breathing on the back of his neck, burning the young boy at his slightest misstep.

The child received refuge in an old Temple where there were no mirrors allowed, and it was forbidden to speak of life before entering the sanctum. Ancient books, hidden rooms with unimaginable treasures and beauty beyond comprehension, became part of the boy’s new life.

Time went by until, one day, the now old young boy accidentally glimpses his own reflection in a pond. The Dragon smiled back.

Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.

Copyright © 2026 Mandarin Temple. All rights reserved.

Scroll to Top