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Kotomora

吏

officer, an official

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolStrokes6

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

Explore all words using 吏 →

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.