荔枝
lìzhī
The English word "lychee" is translated into Chinese as 荔枝 (lìzhī).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
lìzhī
Did you know?
- Because it spoils so quickly, the 荔枝 became a historical test of a courier's speed and loyalty to the Emperor.
- The word 荔枝 is a disyllabic borrowing, meaning it likely entered Chinese as a two-part sound from a Kra-Dai language rather than being built from two Chinese roots.
- In Chinese culture, the red skin and sweetness of 荔枝 often associate the fruit with romance and the arrival of summer.
Examples in context
- 这种荔枝非常甜。Zhè zhǒng lìzhī fēicháng tián.This kind of lychee is very sweet.
- 我想买一些新鲜的荔枝。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīxiē xīnxiān de lìzhī.I want to buy some fresh lychees.
Example conversation
At a fruit stall in a local market.
- 佳怡 Jiayi这些荔枝多少钱一斤？Zhèxiē lìzhī duōshǎo qián yī jīn?How much are these lychees per jin?
- 俊杰 Junjie十块钱一斤，很新鲜。Shí kuài qián yī jīn, hěn xīnxiān.Ten yuan per jin, they are very fresh.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那给我来两斤吧。Nà gěi wǒ lái liǎng jīn ba.Then give me two jin, please.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，没问题。Hǎo de, méi wèntí.Okay, no problem.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lychee” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 荔枝, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
