历 meaning and stroke order
History; calendar
How to write 历, stroke by stroke
4 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
Meaning of 历
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- calendar
- to experience
- to undergo
- to pass through
- all
- each
How 历 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Calendar.
厤 gives the meaning and 力 hints at the sound.
Radical: 厂 (cliff), shared by 29 characters on this site.
How to remember 历
Picture 力 (lì, strength) under the cliff shape 厂: it takes strength to push through time under a heavy overhang, which is what 历 means, going through experience and history. The part 力 also gives the sound, since both are read lì.
历 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It appears in words about time and experience, such as 历史 (lìshǐ, history), 经历 (jīnglì, experience), and 日历 (rìlì, calendar). Example: 我有很多工作经历。(Wǒ yǒu hěn duō gōngzuò jīnglì.) I have a lot of work experience.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 历 with 厉 (lì, strict, as in 厉害 lìhai), which has 万 inside the 厂 instead of 力. They sound the same, so check the inner part: 力 for history and experience, 万 for 厉害.
Common words with 历
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 经历 | jīnglì | to experience; to go through; experience (CL:段[duan4],次[ci4]) | HSK 3 |
| 历史 | lìshǐ | history | HSK 4 |
| 简历 | jiǎnlì | curriculum vitae (CV); résumé | HSK 4 |
| 日历 | rìlì | calendar | HSK 4 |
| 历经 | lìjīng | to experience; to go through | HSK 7-9 |
| 学历 | xuélì | educational background; academic qualifications | HSK 7-9 |
| 来历 | láilì | history; antecedents | HSK 7-9 |
| 资历 | zīlì | qualifications; experience | HSK 7-9 |
| 历程 | lìchéng | course; process | HSK 7-9 |
| 历时 | lìshí | to last; to take (time) | HSK 7-9 |
| 阅历 | yuèlì | to experience; experience | HSK 7-9 |
| 历届 | lìjiè | all previous (meetings, sessions etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 历来 | lìlái | always; throughout (a period of time) | HSK 7-9 |
| 农历 | nónglì | the traditional Chinese calendar; the lunar calendar | HSK 7-9 |
历 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 历
Learning 历 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 历
How many strokes are in 历?
历 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 历 mean?
历 (lì) means history; calendar. A common word with it is 经历 (jīnglì), meaning "to experience; to go through; experience (CL:段[duan4],次[ci4])".
How do you pronounce 历?
历 is pronounced lì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 历?
The radical of 历 is 厂, which carries the idea of "cliff". Dictionaries list 历 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 历?
The traditional form of 历 is 厤, 曆, 歴 and 歷. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 历 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 历 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 历 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 经历 and 经验?
经历 (jīnglì) is the things you have gone through, like events or a life story. 经验 (jīngyàn) is the practical skill or know-how you gained from them. You can say 有趣的经历 (an interesting experience) but 丰富的经验 (rich know-how).
How do you say résumé and education background with 历?
A résumé is 简历 (jiǎnlì), literally a brief record of your history. Your education level is 学历 (xuélì), for example 他的学历是硕士 (Tā de xuélì shì shuòshì), his highest degree is a master's.