勒 meaning and stroke order
To strap tightly; to bind
How to write 勒, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 勒
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to strap tightly
- to bind
- (literary) bridle; halter; headstall
- to rein in
- to compel; to force
- (literary) to carve; to engrave
- (literary) to command; to lead (an army etc)
- (physics) lux (abbr. for 勒克斯[le4 ke4 si1])
How 勒 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Strength.
力 gives the meaning and 革 hints at the sound.
Radical: 力 (strength), shared by 44 characters on this site.
How to remember 勒
勒 combines 革 (gé, leather) and 力 (lì, strength). Picture pulling a leather strap with all your strength until it is tight, which is how you strap something down or rein in a horse.
As lēi, it means to tie or pull something tight, often in everyday speech about belts, ropes, or straps cutting in. As lè, it appears in more formal words like 勒索 (lèsuǒ, to extort) and 勒令 (lèlìng, to order by force). Example: 这根带子勒得太紧了。(Zhè gēn dàizi lēi de tài jǐn le.) This strap is tied too tight.
Common mistake: Learners often read every 勒 as lēi, but in 勒索 (lèsuǒ) and other formal words it is fourth tone lè. Also note the phonetic part 革 is pronounced gé, so do not guess the sound from it.
Common words with 勒
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 勒索 | lèsuǒ | to blackmail; to extort | |
| 勒死 | lēisǐ | to strangle | |
| 格勒 | gélè | (onom.) laughing sound; glug-glug haha! |
勒 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 勒
Learning 勒 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 勒
How many strokes are in 勒?
勒 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 勒 mean?
勒 (lēi) means to strap tightly; to bind. A common word with it is 勒索 (lèsuǒ), meaning "to blackmail; to extort".
How do you pronounce 勒?
勒 is pronounced lēi, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 勒?
The radical of 勒 is 力, which carries the idea of "strength". Dictionaries list 勒 under this radical.
Is 勒 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 勒 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
When do I say lēi and when do I say lè?
Use lēi for the physical, spoken action of tying or squeezing tight, as in 勒死 (lēisǐ) or 勒紧 (lēijǐn). Use lè in literary or formal compounds such as 勒索 (lèsuǒ), 勒令 (lèlìng), and in transliterations.
Why does 勒 show up in foreign names and units?
Its sound lè makes it useful for transliteration, so it appears in names and in the unit lux, 勒克斯 (lèkèsī). In these cases it carries sound only, not the meaning of tightening.