累
Character learning workspace

lěi / lèi / léi · tired

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 2HSK 3.0 · Level 2Frequency #1197
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Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

累 has 3 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

lěi

to accumulate; to involve or implicate (Taiwan pr. [lei4]); continuous

积累jī lěi · to accumulate
lèi

tired; weary; to strain

劳累láo lèi · tired
léi

rope; to bind together; to twist around

累赘léi zhui · superfluous
Step-by-step explorer

See how 累 is constructed

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

11Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

糸Key radical

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Vocabulary in context

Common words with 累

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

lěito accumulate; to involve or implicate (Taiwan pr. [lei4]); continuous
lèitired; weary; to strain
léirope; to bind together; to twist around
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Example sentences

Notice where 累 sits in each complete thought.

Nǐ lèi le, bú shì ma?你累了,不是吗?

You are tired, aren't you?

Source: Tatoeba #333191 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ lèi le, wǒ yě lèi le.你累了,我也累了。

You're tired. I'm also tired.

Source: Tatoeba #1228438 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ hěn lèi, wǒ xiǎng wǒ yào qù shuìjiào le.我很累,我想我要去睡觉了。

I'm tired; I think I'm going to go to bed.

Source: Tatoeba #395284 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì shēng qì le, hái shì lèi le.她是生气了,还是累了。

She is angry, and still tired.

Source: Tatoeba #380680 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ yǒu diǎn lèi le.我有点累了。

I'm feeling a little tired.

Source: Tatoeba #12422343 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ lèi le, dàn shì wǒ shuì bú zhù.我累了,但是我睡不著。

I was tired, but I couldn't sleep.

Source: Tatoeba #885406 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 累 in context

  1. Say lěi / lèi / léi, then recall the core meaning: tired.
  2. Write all 11 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 积累 (jī lěi), meaning “to accumulate”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 累 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.