隸 (lì) - To belong to & to be subordinate to

隸Tone 4

lì ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

隸 · lì

To belong to;

to be subordinate to;

a clerk;

a servant;

a type of official script in Chinese calligraphy.

To belong toto be subordinate toa clerk

Usage highlights

Clerical scriptTo be subordinate toSlave/servantClerk/officialBelong toHan clerical script

Synonyms

  • 属— to belong to; category
  • 从— to follow; subordinate

Antonyms

  • 主— master; principal
  • 独— independent; alone

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He belongs to the marketing department (隶属于市场部).
  • Ancient officials had clerks (隶吏) to assist them.
  • The clerical script (隶书) is an ancient Chinese calligraphy style.
  • This property belongs to the state (隶于国家).

Collocations

  • Clerical script(隶书)
  • To be subordinate to(隶属于)
  • Slave/servant(奴隶)
  • Clerk/official(隶吏)
  • Belong to(隶于)
  • Han clerical script(汉隶)

Idioms

  • Not applicable for this character in common idiom usage

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to slaves or servants in ancient China, later extended to mean subordinate status.
  • In calligraphy, 'clerical script' (隶书) was a significant development during the Han dynasty, marking transition from seal script to modern forms.
  • The character reflects historical social hierarchies where some people were subordinate to others.

FAQ