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擂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
擂léito rub, to grind; to use a mortar and pestlev, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #27213, Very Hard
擂léibeatunknown, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #27213, Very Hard
擂léito beat (a drum)unknown, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #27213, Very Hard
擂lèito rub, to grind; to use a mortar and pestlev, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #27213, Very Hard
擂lèibeatunknown, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #27213, Very Hard
擂lèito beat (a drum)unknown, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #27213, Very Hard
léi(lei2)
primary
T2
  1. 1to rub, to grind; to use a mortar and pestle
  2. 2beat
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

擂léi(lei2)

The character 擂 (léi) primarily means to rub or grind, often in the context of using a mortar and pestle. It can also refer to the act of beating, such as striking a drum. This word is commonly used in culinary settings or when discussing percussion instruments.

Strokes16Radical扌Frequency#27213DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese cooking, the use of a mortar and pestle to grind spices is a time-honored practice that emphasizes flavor and texture, reflecting the cultural importance of food preparation in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef named Lei who is grinding spices with a mortar and pestle. Picture the rhythmic sound of the mortar being struck, like a drumbeat. This connection between grinding and drumming helps you remember the pronunciation 'léi' and the action of grinding.

Meanings of 擂

léi(lei2)
primary
1to rub, to grind; to use a mortar and pestle
2beat
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 擂 means.

About 擂

擂Simplified
16Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 擂

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Podcast: 擂

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AI Study Notes for 擂

Quick Contrast

擂 (léi) vs 捣 (dǎo) — use 擂 when referring specifically to grinding or rubbing, while 捣 emphasizes the action of pounding or mashing.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 擂 with similar-sounding characters that mean to strike or hit, such as 打 (dǎ). It's important to use 擂 specifically in contexts related to grinding or beating, especially in culinary or musical settings. Be mindful of using it in informal situations, as it may sound too specific in formal discourse.

HSK Study Tips

Although 擂 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to cooking and music terms that students might encounter at higher levels. Focus on recognizing its use in recipes or music contexts to enhance your vocabulary and comprehension.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 擂 in contexts that require a more general term for hitting or striking, like 打 (dǎ). For example, saying '我擂球' (wǒ léi qiú) to mean 'I hit the ball' is incorrect; it should be '我打球' (wǒ dǎ qiú).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 擂

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Etymology of 擂

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

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 雷 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

hand

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

Origin

擂 = 扌 + 雷. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 擂

IDS Structure⿰扌雷
擂Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
雷Lei2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 擂?

How to say to rub, to grind; to use a mortar and pestle in Chinese

“to rub, to grind; to use a mortar and pestle” in Chinese is擂léi

The character 擂 (léi) primarily means to rub or grind, often in the context of using a mortar and pestle. It can also refer to the act of beating, such as striking a drum. This word is commonly used in culinary settings or when discussing percussion instruments.

When to use 擂

Learners often confuse 擂 with similar-sounding characters that mean to strike or hit, such as 打 (dǎ). It's important to use 擂 specifically in contexts related to grinding or beating, especially in culinary or musical settings. Be mindful of using it in informal situations, as it may sound too specific in formal discourse.

擂 or something close to it

擂 (léi) vs 捣 (dǎo) — use 擂 when referring specifically to grinding or rubbing, while 捣 emphasizes the action of pounding or mashing.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 擂 in contexts that require a more general term for hitting or striking, like 打 (dǎ). For example, saying '我擂球' (wǒ léi qiú) to mean 'I hit the ball' is incorrect; it should be '我打球' (wǒ dǎ qiú).

Write 擂

擂

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

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Grammar Patterns of 擂

擂 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

“ 照直说吧:”斯特莱佛一拳____在桌上.

'Straight !'said Stryver, with a plump of his fist on the desk.

Example Sentences for 擂 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“ 照直说吧:”斯特莱佛一拳擂在桌上.

“ “ zhào zhí shuō:” bā :” sī tè lái fó yī quán léi zài.

'Straight !'said Stryver, with a plump of his fist on the desk.

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Word Family of 擂

Words Containing This Character6
擂台arena擂臺
擂léibeat
自吹自擂to blow one's own trumpet (idiom)
擂台赛single-elimination open tournament (the winner stays on until he is himself defeated)擂臺賽
打擂台(old) to fight on the leitai打擂臺
大吹大擂ostentation
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 擂

What does 擂台 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 擂

You can say '我在擂香料' (wǒ zài léi xiāngliào), meaning 'I am grinding spices.'

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