How to Write 骊 (lí) — Meaning “Black horse”

Think of a horse (马) that is so beautiful (丽) it looks like it's made of black pearls. This image combines the 'horse' radical with the 'beautiful' component, and the black color comes from the character's meaning.

Write the left radical 马 first (3 strokes: horizontal, vertical fold hook, horizontal), then the right side 丽 (7 strokes). A common mistake is making the top of 丽 too wide or forgetting the dot inside the right part.

骊 (black horse) has the right component 丽 (beautiful), while 驵 has 且 (meaning a horse dealer) and 驶 has 史 (meaning to drive). Visually, 丽 has a unique top structure, whereas 且 is like a box with a line, and 史 is simpler. Meanings also differ: 骊 is a noun, 驵 is a noun, and 驶 is a verb.

骊 is not common in everyday speech but appears in classical terms like 骊山 (Mount Li, a historical site near Xi'an), 骊歌 (a farewell song), and 骊珠 (a legendary black pearl). These are often found in literature, poetry, or place names, so learners may encounter them when studying Chinese culture.

Common words containing 骊 include: 骊山 (lí shān) — Mount Li; 骊歌 (lí gē) — Farewell song; 骊珠 (lí zhū) — Legendary black pearl.