俐

lì

adjective

Meanings

这个孩子真伶俐。

Zhè gè háizi zhēn línglì.

This child is so clever and quick-witted.

她说话口齿伶俐。

Tā shuōhuà kǒuchǐlínglì.

She speaks clearly and articulately, with a sharp tongue.

usage

Bound character: it lives in 伶俐 (clever, smart, deft). You will not see 俐 alone — learn the word 伶俐 as a unit.

radical

亻 rén

person (left-side form)

Left-side person radical 亻, the standing form of 人. Being clever and nimble is a human quality, so the person radical fits 伶俐.

phonetic

利 lì

sharp; benefit

Right side 利 gives the exact sound lì and a nice flavor: 利 means 'sharp', and a quick-witted person has a sharp mind.

俐 lì