Definitions

(noun) pear

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "梨", meaning pear, is a phono-semantic compound whose traditional form is identical to its simplified version. Its structure consistently combines the semantic component "木", denoting wood or tree, with the phonetic component "利", which suggests its pronunciation. This construction clearly indicates it as a type of tree or its fruit. Historically, the character's core meaning has been specifically tied to the pear tree and its fruit, with no significant semantic drift or expansion into abstract concepts.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃

Wǒ xǐhuān chī lí.

I like to eat pears.

妈妈买了三个

Māma mǎi le sān gè lí.

Mom bought three pears.

这个很甜。

Zhège lí hěn tián.

This pear is very sweet.

是一种水果。

Lí shì yī zhǒng shuǐguǒ.

Pears are a type of fruit.

花在春天开放。

Líhuā zài chūntiān kāifàng.

Pear blossoms bloom in spring.

我昨天吃了一个

Wǒ zuótiān chī le yī gè lí.

I ate a pear yesterday.

如果你渴了,可以吃个

Rúguǒ nǐ kě le, kěyǐ chī gè lí.

If you are thirsty, you can eat a pear.

那个又大又甜,非常好吃。

Nàge lí yòu dà yòu tián, fēicháng hǎochī.

That pear is big and sweet, very delicious.