历

厤/曆/歴/歷

lì

力 + 厂

Definitions

lì (verb) to experience; to undergo

lì (noun) history

lì (noun) calendar

Etymology

Simplified form of 歷. Phonosemantic compound. 厤 represents the meaning and 力 represents the sound.

Semantic: 厤 Phonetic: 力

About

The character 历 is the simplified form combining two traditional characters, 歷 and 曆. 歷 originally meant to pass through or experience, with components 厂 (cliff), 林 (forest), and 止 (foot/forward movement). 曆 refers to calendars or time calculation, adding 日 (sun/day) to the base structure. The simplified 历 merges 厂 with 力 as a phonetic element, representing concepts of personal experience, historical events, and time measurement.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我对历史感兴趣。

Wǒ duì lìshǐ gǎn xìngqù.

I am interested in history.

他经历了许多困难。

Tā jīnglìle xǔduō kùnnán.

He experienced many difficulties.

我每天看日历。

Wǒ měitiān kàn rìlì.

I look at the calendar every day.

中国古代历法很先进。

Zhōngguó gǔdài lìfǎ hěn xiānjìn.

Ancient Chinese calendar systems were very advanced.

历届奥运会都很精彩。

Lìjiè Àoyùnhuì dōu hěn jīngcǎi.

All previous Olympic Games have been wonderful.

孩子们喜欢听历险故事。

Háizimen xǐhuān tīng lìxiǎn gùshì.

Children like listening to adventure stories.

历年来的数据表明增长。

Lìnián lái de shùjù biǎomíng zēngzhǎng.

Data over the years shows growth.

通过回顾历史，我们可以吸取经验教训。

Tōngguò huígù lìshǐ, wǒmen kěyǐ xīqǔ jīngyàn jiàoxùn.

By reviewing history, we can learn lessons from experience.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 力

Component: 厂

历