例

Tap the pinyin to hear it

example; precedent; rule; case; instance

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

亻 meaning “person” + 列 sound ( liè )

Components 亻列

example · Heisig RSH #816

人 person + 列 line up

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
例行公事	lì xíng gōng shì	routine business; usual practice; mere formality
下不为例	xià bù wéi lì	not to be repeated; not to be taken as a precedent; just this once
史无前例	shǐ wú qián lì	(idiom) unprecedented in history
例外字	lì wài zì	exception(s)
正比例	zhèng bǐ lì	direct proportionality
举例来说	jǔ lì lái shuō	for example
边角案例	biān jiǎo àn lì	(engineering) corner case
例子	lì zi	case; (for) instance; example; CL:個\|个[ge4]
案例法	àn lì fǎ	case law
例行	lì xíng	routine (task, procedure etc); as usual
例会	lì huì	regular meeting
体例	tǐ lì	style (of literature); form
特例	tè lì	special case; isolated example
事例	shì lì	example; exemplar; typical case
开例	kāi lì	to create a precedent
例语	lì yǔ	(lexicography) illustrative phrase; sample word or phrase
成例	chéng lì	an established precedent; a convention
例外	lì wài	exception; to be an exception
通例	tōng lì	general rule; standard practice
老例	lǎo lì	custom; customary practice

Characters sharing the sound component 列 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
列 sound part	liè	a line; to arrange, to classify
裂	liè	to split, to rend; crevice, crack
烈	liè	fiery, violent; ardent, vehement
咧	liě	to grimace, to grin
冽	liè	cold and raw; pure, clear
趔	liè	to stumble; to halt, to check
洌	liè	clear, pure; to cleanse