璃

琍/瓈
lí
王 + 离

Definitions

lí (noun) glass; colored glaze

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 离 represents the sound. Simplified form of 琍.

Semantic: 王 Phonetic: 离

About

璃 is a phonosemantic compound, simplified from 琍. The left component 王, a form of 玉 (yù), signifies jade, precious stones, and similar crystalline minerals, while the right component 离 (lí) indicates the sound. The character appears almost exclusively with 玻 to form 玻璃 (bōli), meaning 'glass'. Originally, it referred to a colored glaze or a translucent stone like quartz or lapis lazuli. As glassmaking technology spread, its meaning shifted to manufactured transparent glass. Today it rarely stands alone; the compound 玻璃 denotes common glass used in windows, mirrors, and drinking vessels.

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢玻璃杯子。

Wǒ xǐhuān bōli bēizi.

I like glass cups.

这个玻璃瓶很漂亮。

Zhège bōli píng hěn piàoliang.

This glass bottle is very beautiful.

小心别打破玻璃窗。

Xiǎoxīn bié dǎpò bōli chuāng.

Be careful not to break the glass window.

玻璃茶几上放着一本书。

Bōli chájī shàng fàngzhe yī běn shū.

There is a book placed on the glass coffee table.

昨天我买了一个玻璃花瓶。

Zuótiān wǒ mǎile yī gè bōli huāpíng.

Yesterday I bought a glass vase.

阳光透过玻璃照进房间。

Yángguāng tòuguò bōli zhào jìn fángjiān.

Sunlight shines into the room through the glass.

他的眼神像玻璃一样冰冷。

Tā de yǎnshén xiàng bōli yīyàng bīnglěng.

His gaze is as cold as glass.

虽然玻璃易碎，但它的透明度很高。

Suīrán bōli yì suì, dàn tā de tòumíngdù hěn gāo.

Although glass is fragile, its transparency is very high.

Related Characters

Component: 王

现 理 全 金 望 球 环 皇 班 玉 弄 玩 狂 玛

Component: 离

禽 篱 漓 魑 螭 缡 離 蓠 醨 褵 摛 樆 縭 黐

Example Words

玻璃 玻璃杯 琉璃 琉璃瓦 毛玻璃 玻璃球 玻璃纸 玻璃罩 玻璃钢 玻璃体 窗玻璃