立

• Pinyin: lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 立 = 亠 (head) + 一 (ground), a person standing on ground

Meaning

To stand; to establish; to set up; immediately. A fundamental verb for standing or creating.

Core meaning is to stand upright. Extended to mean establishing something (立法 laws, 立场 position). Also used as an adverb meaning 'immediately' (立刻, 立即). Common in formal and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 他在雨中一动不动地立了半个小时。 He stood motionless in the rain for half an hour.
2. 这家公司是十年前立的，现在已经发展得很大了。 This company was established ten years ago and has now grown very large.
3. 请大家立正，升旗仪式马上开始。 Everyone please stand at attention; the flag-raising ceremony is about to begin.

Usage Guide

Context: formal, everyday, written

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请立正站好。(Please stand at attention.)
• 我们必须立下规矩。(We must establish rules.)

Don't Say

• 我在车站立着等你。(In casual speech, use 站着 — 立 alone sounds literary or formal except in fixed phrases)

Origin & History

Pictograph of a person standing on the ground 一. One of the earliest Chinese characters, depicting the concept of standing upright.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal