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Meaning Index

Chinese characters meaning "interior"

Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "interior", including 里 (lǐ), 内 (nèi). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…

How to Study This Meaning Group

The English word "interior" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 里 (lǐ), 内 (nèi) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span lǐ, nèi — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 里 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.

  • 里 lǐinside; internal; interior; village; within; insideUseful words: 这里, 哪里
  • 内 nèiinside; inner; internal; within; interiorUseful words: 内容, 内心

Common words for these 2 "interior" characters

Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 里 (lǐ) — so "interior" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.

See each character in a sentence

Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "interior".

— inside; internal; interior; village; within; inside

房间里很安静。Fáng jiān lǐ hěn ān jìng.It is very quiet in the room.

Common words: 这里 (zhè lǐ)、哪里 (nǎ lǐ)、那里 (nà li)

nèi — inside; inner; internal; within; interior

三天内我会给你回信。Sān tiān nèi wǒ huì gěi nǐ huí xìn.I will reply to you within three days.

Common words: 内容 (nèi róng)、内心 (nèi xīn)、国内 (guó nèi)

All 2 characters

Open 里、内 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.