Question 1

How is the character 例 structured, and how do its parts relate to its meaning?

Accepted Answer

例 combines the radical 亻 (person) on the left with 列 (liè, meaning 'arrange' or 'order') on the right. The person radical suggests something related to people, while 列 provides the sound and idea of a pattern or sequence. Together they create the sense of a 'rule' or 'model' that people follow, like an example.

Question 2

What is a good memory trick to remember the character 例?

Accepted Answer

Picture a person (亻) standing next to a row of neatly arranged items (列), as if showing you how to do something correctly. This image of a person demonstrating a pattern helps you recall that 例 means 'example' or 'rule'.

Question 3

What should I watch out for when writing 例?

Accepted Answer

Start with the left radical 亻: write the left-slanting stroke first, then the vertical line straight down. For the right part 列, write the top horizontal stroke first, then the left-falling stroke, then the short vertical, then the horizontal, then another vertical, and finally the right-falling stroke. A common mistake is making the right side too narrow, so keep it balanced with the left.

Question 4

How is 例 different from the similar characters 仰 and 仲?

Accepted Answer

All three share the 亻 radical, but their right sides differ. 例 has 列 on the right and means 'example' or 'case.' 仰 has 卬 (a person kneeling) and means 'to look up' or 'to rely on.' 仲 has 中 (middle) and refers to the second among brothers or a middle position. Visually, 例's right side has a long left-falling stroke, while 仰 ends with a right-falling stroke, and 仲 has a box-like 中.

Question 5

In what situations do Chinese speakers use 例, and is there any cultural note?

Accepted Answer

例 is very common in everyday language, especially in the words 例子 (lì zi, example), 例如 (lì rú, for example), and 例外 (lì wài, exception). It appears frequently in textbooks, explanations, and formal writing to introduce or illustrate a point. Culturally, using a clear 例子 is valued in education and business to make ideas easy to understand.

Question 6

What common words use 例?

Accepted Answer

Common words containing 例 include: 例子 (lì zi) — example; 例如 (lì rú) — for example; 例外 (lì wài) — exception.

Character	例
Pinyin	lì (li)
Meaning	example; rule; case
Strokes	8
Radical	亻
HSK Level	2
Difficulty	2.9/5

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
例 (current)	lì	8	亻
仰	yǎng	6	亻
仲	zhòng	6	亻
仳	pǐ	6	亻

How to Write 例 (lì) — Meaning “example; rule; case”

Practice Writing 例 (lì)

How to Write 例

What Does lì (例) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 例

Common Words with 例

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 例 (lì)

Frequently Asked Questions about 例

More HSK Level 2 Characters

Characters with Radical 亻

Other 8-Stroke Characters