lì

隶

Character · Verb · NounTraditional隸、隷

subordinate; servant; clerical script

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

4 senses · 20 examples
1.

verb

to be subordinate to; to attach to

formal

Used to describe a relationship of being under the control or jurisdiction of another entity.

Zhè这
ge个
bù部
mén门
lì隶
shǔ属
yú于
zǒng总
gōng公
sī司
 。

This department is subordinate to the headquarters.

Tā他
de的
yán研
jiū究
xiàng项
mù目
lì隶
shǔ属
yú于
guó国
jiā家
zhòng重
diǎn点
shí实
yàn验
shì室
 。

His research project is attached to the national key laboratory.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
ge个
xiǎo小
dǎo岛
lì隶
shǔ属
yú于
zhè浙
jiāng江
shěng省
zhōu舟
shān山
shì市
 。

This small island is under the jurisdiction of Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province.

Xǔ许
duō多
dì地
fāng方
shè社
tuán团
lì隶
shǔ属
yú于
quán全
guó国
xìng性
de的
lián联
hé合
huì会
 。

Many local community groups are affiliated with the national federation.

Zhè这
suǒ所
fēn分
xiào校
lì隶
shǔ属
yú于
běi北
jīng京
dà大
xué学
 。

This branch campus is affiliated with Peking University.

2.

noun

servant; slave; bonded laborer

archaic

Used to refer to people in servitude in feudal society, carries historical and derogatory connotations.

Gǔ古
dài代
guì贵
zú族
jiā家
zhōng中
yǒu有
dà大
liàng量
de的
nú奴
lì隶
hé和
lì隶
yì役
 。

Ancient nobles had large numbers of slaves and bonded servants in their homes.

Tā他
de的
zǔ祖
shàng上
céng曾
jīng经
shì是
dà大
dì地
zhǔ主
de的
jiā家
lì隶
 。

His ancestors used to be household servants of a large landowner.

Show 3 more examples
Nóng农
nú奴
shì是
fēng封
jiàn建
shè社
huì会
zhōng中
zuì最
dǐ底
céng层
de的
lì隶
shǔ属
jiē阶
céng层
 。

Serfs were the lowest-ranking servile class in feudal society.

Dì地
zhǔ主
qiǎng强
pò迫
lì隶
nóng农
wú无
cháng偿
wèi为
qí其
láo劳
zuò作
 。

Landlords forced bonded farmers to work for them without pay.

nú奴
lì隸
zhì制
dù度
zài在
jìn近
dài代
bèi被
chè彻
dǐ底
fèi废
chú除
 。

The slave system was completely abolished in modern times.

3.

noun

yamen runner; constable

archaic

Refers to low-ranking government officials or police in ancient Chinese official yamen, now mostly used in historical contexts.

Zào皂
lì隶
chí手
shǒu持
xíng刑
jù具
zhàn站
zài在
dà大
táng堂
liǎng两
cè侧
 。

The yamen runners in black uniforms stood on both sides of the main hall with shackles.

Xiàn县
tài太
yé爷
de的
lì隶
zú卒
men们
zhèng正
zài在
wéi维
chí持
gōng公
táng堂
zhì秩
xù序
 。

The county magistrate's runners were maintaining order in the courtroom.

Show 3 more examples
Gǔ古
dài代
zào皂
lì隶
fù负
zé责
chuán传
dá达
guān官
yá衙
de的
mìng命
lìng令
hé和
kàn看
guǎn管
fàn犯
rén人
 。

In ancient times, yamen runners were responsible for delivering official orders and guarding prisoners.

Jiē街
tóu头
de的
lì隶
zú卒
zhèng正
zài在
xún巡
luó逻
wéi维
chí持
zhì治
ān安
 。

The yamen runners on the street were patrolling to maintain public order.

Xiǎo小
shuō说
lǐ里
de的
zào皂
lì隶
xíng形
xiàng象
tōng通
cháng常
kè刻
huà画
de得
shí十
fēn分
wēi威
yán严
 。

The yamen runner characters in novels are usually portrayed as very imposing.

4.

noun

clerical script (Chinese calligraphy)

technical, literary

One of the main traditional Chinese calligraphy scripts, developed after seal script and before regular script, characterized by flat, squared characters with distinct horizontal strokes.

Lì隶
shū书
shì是
hàn汉
dài代
zuì最
liú流
xíng行
de的
hàn汉
zì字
zì字
tǐ体
 。

Clerical script was the most popular Chinese calligraphy style during the Han Dynasty.

Zhè这
ge个
bēi碑
wén文
shì是
yòng用
hàn汉
lì隶
shū书
xiě写
de的
 。

This inscription was written in Han clerical script.

Show 3 more examples
Shū书
fǎ法
ài爱
hào好
zhě者
zhèng正
zài在
liàn练
xí习
lì隶
shū书
 。

Calligraphy enthusiasts are practicing clerical script.

Lì隶
shū书
de的
bǐ笔
huà画
guī规
zhěng整
zhuāng庄
zhòng重
 ,
jí极
jù具
yì艺
shù术
jià价
zhí值
 。

Clerical script has neat and solemn strokes, with great artistic value.

Cóng从
zhuàn篆
shū书
dào到
lì隶
shū书
shì是
hàn汉
zì字
yǎn演
biàn变
de的
zhòng重
yào要
zhuǎn转
zhé折
diǎn点
 。

Moving from seal script to clerical script was an important turning point in the evolution of Chinese characters.