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理睬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
理睬lǐcǎito heedHSK 7, v, rank #12807, Hard
理睬lǐcǎito pay attention toHSK 7, v, rank #12807, Hard
lǐcǎi(li3cai3) T3
  1. 1to heed
  2. 2to pay attention to
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March 24, 2026
理睬lǐcǎi(li3cai3)

理睬 (lǐcǎi) means to pay attention to someone or something, often implying a level of consideration or response. It is commonly used in contexts where one party is expected to acknowledge or respond to the actions or words of another, often highlighting a social or relational dynamic.

Frequency#12807DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, paying attention to others is seen as a virtue and an important aspect of interpersonal relationships, often reflecting respect and consideration in social situations. This is especially relevant in contexts like business or family gatherings.

Memory Tip

Think of '理' (lǐ) as 'reason' and '睬' (cǎi) as 'to look' or 'to see.' Imagine a situation where someone is talking, and you are 'seeing' or 'acknowledging' their words with reason. Visualize this as a conversation where you nod in understanding, thus paying attention.

Meanings of 理睬

lǐcǎi(li3cai3)
1to heed
2to pay attention to
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 理睬

理睬Simplified
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#12807Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCTCEFRC2

Podcast: 理睬

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Podcast: 理睬

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AI Study Notes for 理睬

Quick Contrast

关注 (guānzhù) — use 理睬 when implying a social acknowledgment, while 关注 emphasizes a more active attention or concern.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of '理' (lǐ) as 'reason' and '睬' (cǎi) as 'to look' or 'to see.' Imagine a situation where someone is talking, and you are 'seeing' or 'acknowledging' their words with reason. Visualize this as a conversation where you nod in understanding, thus paying attention.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 理睬 with similar verbs like 注意 (zhùyì, to pay attention) or 理解 (lǐjiě, to understand), which have different nuances. It is used in a more relational context and can be informal; however, it can also appear in formal settings when discussing social interactions. Be careful with tones, as incorrect pronunciation could change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 理睬 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to social interactions, such as 关注 (guānzhù, to concern oneself with) and 理解. Students should focus on its usage in complex sentences and practice distinguishing it from similar words.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, paying attention to others is seen as a virtue and an important aspect of interpersonal relationships, often reflecting respect and consideration in social situations. This is especially relevant in contexts like business or family gatherings.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 理睬 with inanimate objects, as it typically refers to people or social interactions. For example, saying 理睬这本书 (lǐcǎi zhè běn shū, to pay attention to this book) is incorrect; instead, you should use 注意 (zhùyì).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 理睬

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Component Characters

texture
HSK 611 strokes
View full entry
cǎito notice, to pay attention to
13 strokes
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Write 理睬

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Grammar Patterns of 理睬

理睬 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 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

Complete the Sentence

有相当一部分普通员工不____工会的建议。

Substantial numbers of rank and file members ignored their union's advice.

Example Sentences for 理睬 (4)

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1
有相当一部分普通员工不理睬工会的建议。

yǒu xiāng dāng yī bù fēn pǔ tōng yuán gōng bù lǐ cǎi gōng huì de jiàn yì。

Substantial numbers of rank and file members ignored their union's advice.
2
他们会指责我,或者更糟糕的是,干脆对我毫不理睬。

tā mén huì zhǐ zé wǒ, , huò zhě gēng zāo gāo de, shì , gān cuì duì wǒ háo bù。

They would criticize me, or worse yet, pay me no attention.
3
他一直都被视为异类,无人理睬,形单影只。

tā yī zhí dū bèi shì wéi yì lèi, , wú rén lǐ, cǎi , xíng dān。

He had always been an outcast, unwanted and alone.
4
裁判对要求判罚点球的叫喊声不予理睬。

cái pàn duì yào qiú pàn fá diǎn qiú de jiào hǎn shēng bù yú lǐ cǎi。

The referee ignored voices baying for a penalty.

Cultural Notes for 理睬

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, paying attention to others is seen as a virtue and an important aspect of interpersonal relationships, often reflecting respect and consideration in social situations. This is especially relevant in contexts like business or family gatherings.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, paying attention is often more direct and may not carry the same social implications as in Chinese culture, where subtle acknowledgment is key to maintaining harmony.

Frequently Asked Questions about 理睬

You can use it like this: 我希望你能理睬我的建议。(I hope you can pay attention to my suggestion.)