烈

liè

列 + 灬

Definitions

liè (adjective) fierce; intense

liè (adjective) ardent; passionate

liè (adjective) upright; righteous

liè (noun) achievement; exploit

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 灬 represents the meaning and 列 represents the sound.

Semantic: 灬 Phonetic: 列

About

The character 烈 means 'intense', 'fierce', or 'violent'. It is a phono-semantic compound combining the four-dot fire radical 灬 at the bottom, which indicates the meaning, with 列 at the top, which provides the sound. The original sense of a raging blaze extended metaphorically to extreme weather, potent alcohol, intense emotions, and the fiercely brave, unyielding character of martyrs and those of uncompromising moral integrity.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Xin dynasty (9-23 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

烈日当空照。

Liè rì dāng kōng zhào.

The scorching sun shines overhead.

他性格很刚烈。

Tā xìnggé hěn gāngliè.

He has a very fiery and unyielding personality.

会场里气氛很热烈。

Huìchǎng lǐ qìfēn hěn rèliè.

The atmosphere in the meeting hall is very warm and enthusiastic.

战士们与敌人展开了激烈战斗。

Zhànshì men yǔ dírén zhǎnkāile jīliè zhàndòu.

The soldiers engaged in fierce combat with the enemy.

他的言辞中流露出强烈的爱国情感。

Tā de yáncí zhōng liúlù chū qiángliè de àiguó qínggǎn.

His words reveal a strong sense of patriotism.

这股强烈的飓风造成了巨大的破坏。

Zhè gǔ qiángliè de jùfēng zàochéngle jùdà de pòhuài.

This powerful hurricane caused massive destruction.

面对如此猛烈的攻击，防线很快就被突破了。

Miàn duì rúcǐ měngliè de gōngjī, fángxiàn hěn kuài jiù bèi tūpò le.

Faced with such a fierce attack, the defense line was quickly breached.

这场思想领域内新旧观念的激烈冲突，是时代变迁的缩影。

Zhè chǎng sīxiǎng lǐngyù nèi xīn jiù guānniàn de jīliè chōngtū, shì shídài biànqiān de suōyǐng.

The intense conflict between new and old ideas in the realm of thought is a microcosm of the changes of the times.

Related Characters

Component: 列

Component: 灬

烈