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March 24, 2026
激烈jīliè(ji1lie4)
The term '激烈' (jī liè) describes something that is intense, fierce, or acute, often used to characterize competition, emotions, or debates. It conveys a sense of strong energy and urgency, making it suitable for contexts involving conflict or passionate discussions.
Frequency#3776DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the term '激烈' is often used in the context of traditional sports like dragon boat racing, where intense competition is celebrated and encouraged.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce dragon (激) breathing fire (烈) in a heated battle. The character 激 looks like a dragon's tail, symbolizing intensity, while 烈 resembles flames, reinforcing the idea of fierceness.
Meanings of 激烈
jīliè(ji1lie4)
1intense
2acute
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 激烈
激烈Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3776Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 激烈
Podcast: 激烈
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AI Study Notes for 激烈
Quick Contrast
激烈 (intense) vs 猛烈 (fierce) — choose 激烈 when emphasizing emotional intensity or urgency, while 猛烈 often refers to physical force or strength.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fierce dragon (激) breathing fire (烈) in a heated battle. The character 激 looks like a dragon's tail, symbolizing intensity, while 烈 resembles flames, reinforcing the idea of fierceness.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include misusing 激烈 in contexts that require a more neutral term; for example, saying '激烈的天气' (intense weather) instead of '恶劣的天气' (severe weather). It's typically used in more formal contexts, such as news reports or academic discussions.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, '激烈' connects to other descriptive adjectives like '强烈' (strong) and '剧烈' (violent). Students should focus on using it in phrases related to competition or emotions to understand its context better.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the term '激烈' is often used in the context of traditional sports like dragon boat racing, where intense competition is celebrated and encouraged.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 激烈 with '温和' (wēn hé), which means gentle or mild. For instance, saying '激烈的音乐' (intense music) instead of '激动人心的音乐' (exciting music) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 激烈
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Grammar Patterns of 激烈
激烈 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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 4
Complete the Sentence
言辞____的右翼领袖在会后收敛了他的好战言论。
The fiery right-wing leader toned down his militant statements after the meeting.
Example Sentences for 激烈 (10)
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1
言辞激烈的右翼领袖在会后收敛了他的好战言论。
yán cí jī liè de yòu yì lǐng xiù zài huì hòu shōu liǎn le tā de hǎo zhàn yán lùn。
The fiery right-wing leader toned down his militant statements after the meeting.
2
塞尔维亚人和克罗地亚人之间的争斗由来已久，而且非常激烈。
sāi ěr wéi yà rén hé kè luó dì yà rén zhī jiān de zhēng dǒu yóu lái yǐ jiǔ， ， ér qiě fēi cháng jī。
The quarrel between the Serbs and the Croats is old and bitter.
The latest opinion polls are predicting a very close contest.
6
预计地方选举的竞争会非常激烈。
yù jì dì fāng xuǎn jǔ de jìng zhēng huì fēi cháng jī liè。
There is expected to be a keen fight in the local elections.
7
他能听到希尔顿在同休斯敦激烈争吵时的咆哮声。
tā néng tīng dào xī ěr dùn zài tóng xiū sī dūn jī liè zhēng chǎo shí de páo xiào shēng。
He could hear Hilton's strident voice rising in vehement argument with Houston.
8
那类立法在议会内外都引起了激烈的争论。
nà lèi lì fǎ zài yì huì nèi wài dū yǐn qǐ le jī liè de zhēng lùn。
Legislation to that effect created fierce controversy both in Parliament and outside.
9
他们争论得很激烈, 但是谁也说服不了谁.
tā mén zhēng lùn dé hěn jī liè, , dàn shì shuí yě shuō fú bù le.
They argue heatedly, but neither could convince the other.
10
他们把煤价定得太高而被挤出竞争激烈的市场.
tā mén bǎ méi jià dìng dé tài gāo ér bèi jǐ chū jìng zhēng jī liè de shì cháng.
They priced coal out of the competitive market.
Cultural Notes for 激烈
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the term '激烈' is often used in the context of traditional sports like dragon boat racing, where intense competition is celebrated and encouraged.
Frequently Asked Questions about 激烈
No, 激烈 specifically refers to intense or fierce situations, so it wouldn't be appropriate for calm contexts.
激烈 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, but it may appear more frequently in formal writing.
The opposite would be '平和' (píng hé), meaning peaceful or calm.
