历史 (lì shǐ) — history in Mandarin
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#142 most common word · HSK 3 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
历史 is pronounced lì shǐ. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Wǒ xǐhuān xué lìshǐ.
I like studying history.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 历史 mean?+
历史 (lì shǐ) means "history" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 历史?+
历史 is pronounced lì shǐ. It uses the tone 4 (falling), then the tone 3 (rising/dipping). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 历史 in Mandarin?+
历史 is the #142 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 历史 fits
Every HSK 3 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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