磊 meaning and stroke order
A pile of rocks; candid, open; great
How to write 磊, stroke by stroke
15 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 磊
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- lumpy
- rock pile
- uneven
- fig. sincere
- open and honest
How 磊 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Many rocks 石 piled up.
Radical: 石 (stone), shared by 114 characters on this site.
How to remember 磊
磊 is three 石 (shí, stone) stacked together: one on top, two below, like a little rock pile. A heap of solid stones that hides nothing also suggests a person who is open and honest.
Today 磊 rarely appears alone. You mostly meet it in the idiom 光明磊落 (guāngmíng-lěiluò), which praises someone as open and upright. Example: 他为人光明磊落。(Tā wéirén guāngmíng-lěiluò.) He is an open and honest person.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 磊 with 垒 (lěi, to build up, a rampart), which has the same pronunciation but a different shape and meaning. Also remember the tone is third tone lěi, not second tone léi as in 雷 (léi, thunder).
Common words with 磊
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 光明磊落 | guāngmíng-lěiluò | open and candid (idiom); straightforward and upright | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 磊
How many strokes are in 磊?
磊 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 磊 mean?
磊 (lěi) means a pile of rocks; candid, open; great. A common word with it is 光明磊落 (guāngmíng-lěiluò), meaning "open and candid (idiom); straightforward and upright".
How do you pronounce 磊?
磊 is pronounced lěi, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 磊?
The radical of 磊 is 石, which carries the idea of "stone". Dictionaries list 磊 under this radical.
Is 磊 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 磊 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Is 磊 used in Chinese names?
Yes, 磊 is a popular character in given names, especially for boys. Parents choose it for the idea of being solid, steady and honest.
What does 磊落 mean on its own?
磊落 (lěiluò) means open, frank and upright in character. It can describe a person's behavior, but it is most often heard inside the four character idiom 光明磊落.