哩 (lī) — mile (unit of distance, equivalent to about 1.6…

Definition

哩 is a bound measure-word unit used only in 英里 'mile', never on its own. It pairs with 英 to form the standard word for the British/American mile.

bound form

mile (unit of distance, equivalent to about 1.6 kilometers)

哩。
Cóng zhè r dào jī chǎng dà gài yǒu èr shí lī.
It's about twenty miles from here to the airport.
哩。
Yì lī dà yuē děng yú yì diǎn liù gōng lǐ.
One mile is approximately equal to 1.6 kilometers.
哩。
Zhè liàng chē de zuì gāo shí sù néng dá dào yì bǎi èr shí lī.
This car's top speed can reach 120 miles per hour.

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

口里哩

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

里

Same sound today

The shape of 哩 combines 口 (mouth) with 里, which gives the sound.

Appears in