隶
lì
subservient
At a glance · 隶

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

隶 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 隶 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 隶 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 隶 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 隶 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 隶 Regular script
    Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested:oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「隶」甲骨文从又从尾,象手逮人,小篆形变作隶。

What the sketch shows

隶 Object sketch

Origins & notes

「隶」本义为附着、逮(逮),后指隶书、奴隶。

Structure

从又、从尾,会意字,象以手牵逮,本为附、及,后指隶书。

At a glance

Pinyinlì
Radical隶
Strokes8
UnicodeU+96B6
Character type会意
Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English subservient subservient; servant; Kangxi radical 171
Français écriture li / esclave Écriture li (clerical), esclave. «杜稿钟隶» : le style li.
Español escritura li / esclavo Escritura li (clerical), esclavo. «杜稿钟隶»: el estilo li.
العربية خط لي / عبد خط لي (كليريكال)، عبد. «杜稿钟隶»: أسلوب لي.
Русский письмо ли / раб Письмо ли (канцелярское), раб. «杜稿钟隶»: стиль ли.

Common words

  • 隶书lì shūclerical script
  • 隶lìsubordinate