勒 (lè) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

勒

lè[le4]Tone 4

bridle, rein in, compel

HSK 7

Multiple Readings (多音字):

Guru Deep Dive

English · bridle, rein in, compel

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:11

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (革) is slightly wider and heavier, while the right side (力) balances it out by extending its sweeping diagonal stroke firmly to the lower right.

1. Meaning

to rein in, bridle, compel

to carve or engraveto command or lead an armylux (unit of illuminance, abbreviated from 勒克斯)

VerbFormal / LiteraryBound morpheme#action#control#physics#literature

Sample Usage

勒马
lè mǎ
to rein in a horse
勒令
lè lìng
to order strictly, to compel

2. Sound

/[lɤ⁵¹]/Tone: 51

勒

lèle4

`(51)

=lè

Build the syllable

Step-by-step blending

Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "e" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).

Initial Consonant

Type: Alveolar Lateral

Sounds like: l sound

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Air flows freely around both sides of tongue.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip touches the gum ridge behind the upper front teeth, then drops.

Final Rhyme

Vowel Group: -e vowel group

Sounds like: uh / err sound

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'uh'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T4 (51)

5 → 1 (51)

4th Tone (High-Falling)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops abruptly like an emphatic command or an angry 'No!'.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the retroflex vowel rhyme '-e' with other vowel finals like '-ai' or '-ou'.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, forceful karate chop downwards, mirroring the abrupt downward pitch of Tone 4.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 11 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (革) is slightly wider and heavier, while the right side (力) balances it out by extending its sweeping diagonal stroke firmly to the lower right.

4. Components

Radical 革 · Leather / Hide Radical (Raw hide, leather skin)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 革 (Provides the core meaning related to leather straps, bridles, and reins.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 力 (original sound: lì)

A leather strap (革) combined with muscular strength or physical force (力) creates the image of pulling hard on horse reins or compelling someone with force.

革 Leather hide or strap
力 Power or physical force

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

3· Phonetic Root: 勒 (lè)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally formed by combining 革 (animal hide used for harnesses and reins) with 力 (strength) to denote the physical action of pulling reins tightly to control a horse.

Semantic Evolution: From its physical roots of pulling a horse's leather bridle, the meaning expanded metaphorically to 'compel,' 'force,' and later used phonetically to transliterate foreign loanwords like 'lux' (勒克斯).

In classical texts, 勒 frequently appears in military contexts describing generals leading armies or carving inscriptions into stone monuments.

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: ロク

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

륵

Sound Shift Bridge: Shares semantic associations with controlling force, matching its high frequency in technical and literary translations.

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

Using all your physical strength (力) pulling on a tough leather hide bridle (革) to forcefully rein in a runaway horse.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

嘞

leisentence-final particle similar to 了[le5], but carrying a tone of approval+ 口 (mouth)

鳓

lèChinese herring (Ilisha elongata); white herring+ 鱼 (fish)

Explore this family →

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

勤(qín)

勤 has a different left component (堇) and means diligent, whereas 勒 features the leather hide radical (革).

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

骑马时要拉紧马缰绳来[___]住马匹。

Clue: lè

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the fourth tone pitch drop with tone 3, or incorrectly writing the complex leather radical (革) with standard box structures.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 勒 with the leather and power components, what primary physical action does it evoke?

Production: How do you write the character meaning 'to rein in or compel' with 11 strokes?

勒lèbridle, rein in, compel

Speed:

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