How to Write 莅 (lì) — Meaning “To arrive or attend”

Imagine a person taking their position (位) on a patch of grass (艹) to mark their arrival at a formal event. This mental image helps link the shape of 莅 to the idea of 'attending' or 'arriving' at a special place.

Write the top grass radical 艹 in three strokes: horizontal, vertical, then horizontal. The bottom part 位 consists of 亻 (person) on the left and 立 (stand) on the right, totaling seven more strokes. A common mistake is making the grass radical too wide or unbalanced with the bottom portion; keep them aligned and proportionate.

While all three share the grass radical 艹, their bottom components differ: 莅 has 位 (position), 兹 has 玄 (mysterious), and 苑 has 夗 (bend). Their meanings also differ greatly: 莅 means to attend or arrive, 兹 means 'now' or 'this', and 苑 means 'garden'. Focus on the bottom part to identify each character correctly.

莅 is a very formal character used in respectful expressions like 莅临 (to grace with one's presence) when referring to important guests or officials. You often see it in invitation cards, ceremony announcements, or news reports about visits. Using 莅 shows deep respect and formality, so it is not used in everyday casual conversation.

Common words containing 莅 include: 莅临 (lì lín) — To grace with one's presence or attend; 莅任 (lì rèn) — To take up a post; 莅事 (lì shì) — To attend to matters or take office.