里 meaning and stroke order
Lining; interior; inside
How to write 里, stroke by stroke
7 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
Meaning of 里
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- lining
- interior
- inside
- internal
- also written 裏|里[li3]
- li, ancient measure of length, approx. 500 m
How 里 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Unit of measure for farm 田 land 土.
How to remember 里
里 is a field 田 sitting on top of earth 土. Picture measuring out farm land, which gives the old distance unit 里 (lǐ), and the idea of a village built among the fields.
In everyday Chinese 里 most often means "inside" and follows a noun, as in 家里 (jiā li, at home) or 心里 (xīnlǐ, in one's mind). It also forms place words like 这里 (zhèlǐ, here) and the unit 公里 (gōnglǐ, kilometer). Example: 书在包里。(Shū zài bāo li.) The book is in the bag.
Common mistake: Learners often put 里 before the noun the way English puts "in" first. Chinese says 在房间里 (zài fángjiān li), with 里 after the noun, not 在里房间. Also do not confuse 里 with 理 (lǐ, reason), which adds the jade radical 王 on the left.
Common words with 里
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这里 | zhèlǐ | here | HSK 1 |
| 那里 | nàlǐ | there; that place | HSK 1 |
| 哪里 | nǎlǐ | where?; somewhere | HSK 1 |
| 家里 | jiā li | home | HSK 1 |
| 里边 | lǐbian | inside | HSK 1 |
| 心里 | xīnlǐ | chest; heart; mind | HSK 2 |
| 公里 | gōnglǐ | kilometer | HSK 2 |
| 里头 | lǐtou | inside; interior | HSK 2 |
| 夜里 | yèlǐ | during the night; at night | HSK 2 |
| 里面 | lǐmiàn | inside; interior | HSK 3 |
| 手里 | shǒu li | in hand; (a situation is) in sb's hands | HSK 4 |
| 眼里 | yǎnli | HSK 4 | |
| 城里 | chénglǐ | HSK 5 | |
| 怀里 | huái li | embrace; bosom | HSK 7-9 |
里 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 里
Learning 里 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 里
How many strokes are in 里?
里 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 里 mean?
里 (lǐ) means lining; interior; inside. A common word with it is 这里 (zhèlǐ), meaning "here".
How do you pronounce 里?
里 is pronounced lǐ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the traditional form of 里?
The traditional form of 里 is 裏 and 裡. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 里 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 里 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 里 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
Why is 里 sometimes written without a tone, as li?
When 里 follows a noun to mean "inside," as in 家里 (jiā li), it is often read with a light, neutral tone in speech. In words like 公里 (gōnglǐ) or on its own it keeps the third tone.
Does 哪里 (nǎlǐ) only mean "where"?
No. 哪里 can also be a modest reply to a compliment, similar to "not at all." If someone praises your Chinese, you can say 哪里哪里 (nǎlǐ nǎlǐ).