HanziGuru.率 · lǜ
率
lǜ[lu:4]Tone 4

rate, ratio, proportion

HSK 4
Multiple Readings (多音字):
Guru Deep Dive

English · rate, ratio, proportion

Cached lesson
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Topology:Top-bottom
Strokes:11
Writing Balance Rule: Maintain vertical symmetry with the top portion crowning the middle and bottom elements, ensuring the vertical hooks and slants do not lean too far left or right.
1. Meaning

ratio, rate, proportion

frank, straight-forward (when pronounced shuài)
Noun, Bound FormFormalBound morpheme#mathematics#statistics#economics
Sample Usage
  • 失业率
    shīyè lǜ
    unemployment rate
  • 效率
    xiàolǜ
    efficiency
2. Sound
/[ly⁵¹]/Tone: 51
率
lǜlv4
++
`(51)
=lǜ
Initial Consonant
l
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 alveolar ridge behind upper front teeth.
Final Rhyme
ü
Vowel Group: -v vowel group
Sounds like: ü sound (rounded i)
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ü'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops sharply to the bottom, like shouting a sudden command or answering 'No!'.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the rounded vowel ü [y] with the unrounded i [i], pronouncing it as li instead of lü.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, authoritative downward chop in the air, mirroring a quick drop from top to bottom.
3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 11 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: Maintain vertical symmetry with the top portion crowning the middle and bottom elements, ensuring the vertical hooks and slants do not lean too far left or right.

4. Components

Radical 玄 · Black / Profound Radical (dark, mysterious)

The character features a top net-like structure over a lower section signifying measurement or boundaries, symbolizing a standard or ratio.

  • 亠 lid or top cover
  • 玄 black or mysterious background
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally depicted threads or a net used to measure and categorize things, which later evolved into the concept of proportion and rates.

Semantic Evolution: Shifted from a standard of measurement or banner-like guide to mathematical ratios and rates.

  • This character has two common pronunciations: lǜ (ratio, rate) and shuài (commander, frank).
  • Extremely common as a compound suffix in modern scientific and financial terminology.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: リツ, レツ / Kun: ひきいる
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
률
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

A detective under a black lid (玄) calculates the success rate (率) of solving mysteries by drawing precise ratios.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
率
lǜratio, rateBase form for rates and percentages.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
幸(xìng)
幸 means fortune/luck and has a different top component and internal structure.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
这家公司的增长[___]非常快。
Clue: zēng zhǎng lǜ
Common Learner Pitfall

Forgetting that it takes the rounded ü vowel and mispronouncing it with a standard English 'u' or 'ee'.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: What is the primary meaning and pronunciation of 率 when used in economic terms like 利率 (lìlǜ)?
Production: How do you write the character for 'rate' or 'ratio' (lǜ) in 11 strokes?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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