例 meaning and stroke order
Precedent, example, case; regulation
How to write 例, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 例
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- example
- precedent
- rule
- case
- instance
How 例 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Person.
亻 gives the meaning and 列 hints at the sound.
Radical: 亻 (man), shared by 277 characters on this site.
How to remember 例
例 is pictophonetic: 亻 (person) gives the meaning and 列 (liè, to line up) gives the sound. Picture people lined up in a row, each one standing as an example for the next.
例 rarely stands alone and usually appears in words like 例如 (lìrú, for example), 例子 (lìzi, example), and 比例 (bǐlì, proportion). 例如 is used to introduce examples in a list. 我喜欢水果，例如苹果和香蕉。(Wǒ xǐhuan shuǐguǒ, lìrú píngguǒ hé xiāngjiāo.) I like fruit, for example apples and bananas.
Common mistake: Learners often drop the 亻 and write 列 (liè), which means to line up or a row, as in 列车 (lièchē, train). Also note the tone difference: 例 is fourth tone lì, while 列 is liè.
Common words with 例
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 例如 | lìrú | for example; for instance; such as | HSK 2 |
| 例子 | lìzi | case; (for) instance | HSK 2 |
| 比例 | bǐlì | proportion; scale | HSK 3 |
| 例外 | lìwài | exception; to be an exception | HSK 5 |
| 条例 | tiáolì | regulations; rules; code of conduct; ordinances; statutes | HSK 7-9 |
| 惯例 | guànlì | convention; usual practice | HSK 7-9 |
| 先例 | xiānlì | precedent | HSK 7-9 |
| 史无前例 | shǐwúqiánlì | (idiom) unprecedented in history | HSK 7-9 |
| 特例 | tèlì | special case; isolated example | HSK 7-9 |
| 举例 | jǔlì | to give an example | HSK 7-9 |
| 照例 | zhàolì | as a rule; as usual | HSK 7-9 |
| 案例 | ànlì | case (of fraud, hepatitis, international cooperation etc); instance; example | |
| 病例 | bìnglì | (medical) case; occurrence of illness | |
| 例行 | lìxíng | routine (task, procedure etc); as usual |
例 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 例
How many strokes are in 例?
例 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 例 mean?
例 (lì) means precedent, example, case; regulation. A common word with it is 例如 (lìrú), meaning "for example; for instance; such as".
How do you pronounce 例?
例 is pronounced lì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 例?
The radical of 例 is 亻, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 例 under this radical.
Is 例 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 例 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 例如 and 比如?
Both mean for example. 比如 (bǐrú) is more common in casual speech, while 例如 sounds a bit more formal and is common in writing.
How do I say there are no exceptions?
You can say 没有例外 (méiyǒu lìwài) or 不例外 (bù lìwài), meaning no exception. For example, 大家都要来，你也不例外 means everyone must come, and you are no exception.