丽

麗

lí, lì

一 + 丶 + 冂

Definitions

lì (adjective) beautiful; pretty

Lí (noun) Korea

Etymology

Simplified form of 麗. Pictograph of a deer (鹿) with two beautiful antlers. The traditional component 鹿 was removed for simplification.

About

The character 丽 (lì) is the simplified form of 麗, which originally depicted a deer (鹿) with striking antlers, a pictograph conveying beauty and symmetry. The prominent antlers suggested elegance and also a matched pair, giving rise to early meanings like "couple" and "pair", though the primary sense gradually shifted to "beautiful" and "magnificent". The modern simplification drops the 鹿 component entirely, retaining only the upper portion that once represented the antlers, now standing for the abstract concept of beauty.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

美丽的花园就在前面。

Měilì de huāyuán jiù zài qiánmiàn.

The beautiful garden is just ahead.

今天的天气非常风和日丽。

Jīntiān de tiānqì fēicháng fēng hé rì lì.

The weather is very mild and sunny today.

这座城市以华丽的建筑闻名。

Zhè zuò chéngshì yǐ huálì de jiànzhù wénmíng.

This city is famous for its magnificent architecture.

她的新裙子看起来十分秀丽。

Tā de xīn qúnzi kàn qǐlái shífēn xiùlì.

Her new dress looks very elegant and pretty.

夕阳下的景色无比壮丽。

Xīyáng xià de jǐngsè wúbǐ zhuànglì.

The scenery under the sunset is incomparably magnificent.

她既聪明又美丽，大家都很喜欢她。

Tā jì cōngmíng yòu měilì, dàjiā dōu hěn xǐhuān tā.

She is both smart and beautiful, everyone likes her very much.

文章用华丽的辞藻描绘了自然风光。

Wénzhāng yòng huálì de cízǎo miáohuìle zìrán fēngguāng.

The article described the natural scenery with ornate diction.

远处壮丽的山峰与秀丽的湖泊相映成趣。

Yuǎnchù zhuànglì de shānfēng yǔ xiùlì de húpō xiāng yìng chéng qù.

The magnificent mountains in the distance and the graceful lakes complement each other beautifully.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 一

Component: 丶

Component: 冂

Example Words