吏
officer, an official
Readings
On'yomi
- リ
Kun'yomi
—
Nanori
- さと
- し
Meaning
吏 centers on a person holding an official role or position of authority: an officer or official.
Most common words using 吏
20 of 42- 官吏かんり
government official; public servant; civil servant
- 吏り
government official; public official
- 下吏かりN1
lower official
- 捕吏ほりN1
constable; policeman
- 俗吏ぞくり
petty official
- 公吏こうり
local government official
- 刀筆の吏とうひつのり
minor official
- 刑吏けいり
executioner
- 収税吏しゅうぜいり
tax collector
- 吏人りじん
officials
- 吏僚りりょう
public servant; government official
- 吏党りとう
party of officials
- 吏務りむ
the work of officials
- 吏員りいん
official
- 吏臭りしゅう
officialism; red tape
- 吏読りと
Idu (archaic writing system that uses Chinese characters to represent the Korean language)
- 吏道りどう
official ethics
- 吏部りぶ
Ministry of Personnel (Tang dynasty China)
- 善吏ぜんり
honest government official
- 執行吏しっこうり
bailiff
Study
Etymology
吏 is thought to derive from a hand holding a writing instrument or document, representing an official or clerk. The modern form retains a stylized hand-and-brush shape.
Meaning mnemonic
The top stroke 一 suggests a cap or hat, and the crossed lines below look like a person holding a brush or document: an official at work.
Reading mnemonic
For リ, imagine an official reading a report: read -> リ, and the officer reads official documents.