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隸

简隶 · 繁隸

Mandarin · pinyin lì

(bound form) a person in servitude; low-ranking subordinate
(bound form) to be subordinate to
(bound form) clerical script (the style of characters intermediate between ancient seal and modern regular characters)

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Characters in this entry

隸: Look up this written character
隶: lì · subservient; servant; Kangxi radical 171

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4 · li4

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1character link128same-tone records

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

隸 · find source passages ↗ · 隶 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 4 senses · 3 Cantonese readings

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

dai6 · doi6 · lai6

Cantonese word readings for 隸. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character

(historical) A class of lowly persons or servants in ancient China.
to be subordinate
(historical) bailiff in a yamen
clerical script

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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