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俚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
俚lǐrustic, vulgar, unpolished; meanzg, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #45676, Very Hard
俚lǐold name for the 黎[Li2] ethnic groupunknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #45676, Very Hard
俚lǐunrefinedunknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #45676, Very Hard
俚lǐabbr. for 俚語|俚语[li3 yu3], slangunknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #45676, Very Hard
lǐ(Li3) T3
  1. 1rustic, vulgar, unpolished; mean
  2. 2old name for the 黎[Li2] ethnic group
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March 24, 2026

俚lǐ(Li3)

The character 俚 (lǐ) primarily means rustic or vulgar, often referring to language or behavior that lacks refinement. It can also denote something that is mean or unpolished, commonly used in discussions about social manners or dialects. Additionally, it is an abbreviation for 俚语 (lǐyǔ), which means slang.

Strokes9Radical亻Frequency#45676DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the distinction between refined and vulgar language is significant, especially in the context of regional dialects. 俚语 reflects the rich diversity of local expressions and is often a source of cultural pride.

Memory Tip

Imagine a rustic village where people speak in a rough, unrefined manner. The character 俚 has the '人' (rén, person) radical, hinting at human behavior, combined with '里' (lǐ, inside), suggesting the raw, unpolished nature of speech found within a community.

Meanings of 俚

lǐ(Li3)
1rustic, vulgar, unpolished; mean
2old name for the 黎[Li2] ethnic group
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 俚 means.

About 俚

俚Simplified
9Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 俚

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Podcast: 俚

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AI Study Notes for 俚

Quick Contrast

粗 (cū, coarse) — use 俚 (lǐ) when referring specifically to rustic or vulgar language, while 粗 (cū) emphasizes a lack of refinement in material or physical quality.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 俚, as it can carry a negative connotation if used to describe someone's speech or behavior. It is primarily informal, so it’s best used in casual conversations or critiques rather than formal contexts. Common collocations include 俚语 (slang) and 俚俗 (vulgar).

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the HSK, 俚 connects with other commonly used terms related to language and culture. Students should focus on its usage in describing dialects or informal language to enhance their conversational skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 俚 with similar-sounding words. For example, using 俚 to describe a sophisticated dialect would be incorrect; instead, use refined terms like 优雅 (yōuyǎ, elegant) or 精致 (jīngzhì, exquisite).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 俚

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Etymology of 俚

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

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 里 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

person

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

Origin

俚 = 亻 + 里. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 俚

IDS Structure⿰亻里
俚Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
里li3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 俚?

How to say rustic, vulgar, unpolished; mean in Chinese

“rustic, vulgar, unpolished; mean” in Chinese is俚lǐ

The character 俚 (lǐ) primarily means rustic or vulgar, often referring to language or behavior that lacks refinement. It can also denote something that is mean or unpolished, commonly used in discussions about social manners or dialects. Additionally, it is an abbreviation for 俚语 (lǐyǔ), which means slang.

When to use 俚

Be cautious when using 俚, as it can carry a negative connotation if used to describe someone's speech or behavior. It is primarily informal, so it’s best used in casual conversations or critiques rather than formal contexts. Common collocations include 俚语 (slang) and 俚俗 (vulgar).

俚 or something close to it

粗 (cū, coarse) — use 俚 (lǐ) when referring specifically to rustic or vulgar language, while 粗 (cū) emphasizes a lack of refinement in material or physical quality.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 俚 with similar-sounding words. For example, using 俚 to describe a sophisticated dialect would be incorrect; instead, use refined terms like 优雅 (yōuyǎ, elegant) or 精致 (jīngzhì, exquisite).

Write 俚

俚

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

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Grammar Patterns of 俚

俚 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

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

这个短语在这本字典里被注为____语.

The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.

Example Sentences for 俚 (1)

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1
这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语.

zhè gè duǎn yǔ zài zhè běn zì diǎn lǐ bèi zhù wéi lǐ yǔ.

The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.

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Word Family of 俚

Words Containing This Character2
俚语slang俚語
俚lǐrustic
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 俚

What does 俚语 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 俚

俚语 refers specifically to slang or informal language, often used in local dialects, while 普通话 is the standard Mandarin widely used in formal settings.

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