里
lǐ
In Chinese, 里 (lǐ) refers to the li, a traditional Chinese unit of distance. Wiktionary also lists 市里 (shìlǐ).
Meaning: Chinese unit of distance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 里 | lǐ |
| 市里 | shìlǐ |
The character 里 is used as a traditional unit of distance, though it is less common in modern daily life than the metric system.
Which one should you use?
When used as a unit of distance, 里 (lǐ) is distinct from the surname 李 (Lǐ) or the surname 黎 (Lí) despite having similar pronunciations. The term 市里 (shìlǐ) is a common way to say 'in the city' or 'within the city limits'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
lǐ
Did you know?
- The character 里 is a visual combination of 'field' and 'soil', reflecting its origins as a way to measure and define pieces of agricultural land.
- In ancient China, the length of a 里 was not standardized and varied significantly across different dynasties and regions.
Examples in context
- 小李旁边的那个人我好像在哪里见过。I think I've seen that person next to Xiao Li before.This sentence shows how to use the form 里 in a natural context.Tatoeba #3537630 by trieuho, translation #3537631 by trieuho
- 我家离超市有三里。Wǒ jiā lí chāoshì yǒu sān lǐ.My house is three li away from the supermarket.
- 这条路大约有十里长。Zhè tiáo lù dàyuē yǒu shí lǐ cháng.This road is about ten li long.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a hiking distance.
- 佳怡 Jiayi这里离山顶还有多少里？Zhèlǐ lí shāndǐng hái yǒu duōshǎo lǐ?How many li are left until the summit?
- 志强 Zhiqiang大概还有三里。Dàgài hái yǒu sān lǐ.About three li more.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，我们快点走吧。Zhìqiáng, wǒmen kuài diǎn zǒu ba.Zhiqiang, let's walk faster.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，佳怡，跟我来。Hǎo de, Jiāyí, gēn wǒ lái.Okay, Jiayi, follow me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “li” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 里, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
