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noun / verb HSK 4
lǜ / shuài
rate · ratio · proportion · to lead · to command

Meaning

率 has two main pronunciations and meanings. As 'lǜ', it means rate, ratio, or proportion, commonly used in statistics and measurements. As 'shuài', it means to lead or command, often seen in military or leadership contexts, though this usage is more literary.

Usage

The 'lǜ' pronunciation is far more common in modern Mandarin, appearing in everyday compound words like 效率 (efficiency) and 比率 (ratio). The 'shuài' pronunciation appears mainly in formal or literary expressions related to leadership. In compounds, 率 almost always reads as 'lǜ'.

Examples

  1. 01
    这个项目的成功率很高。
    Zhège xiàngmù de chénggōng lǜ hěn gāo.
    This project has a high success rate.
  2. 02
    我们需要提高工作效率。
    Wǒmen xūyào tígāo gōngzuò xiàolǜ.
    We need to improve work efficiency.

Common collocations

  • 增长率
    zēng zhǎng lǜ
    growth rate
  • 成功率
    chéng gōng lǜ
    success rate
  • 失业率
    shī yè lǜ
    unemployment rate
  • 利率
    lì lǜ
    interest rate

Origin

The character originally depicted a rope or cord束 binding objects together, suggesting the idea of pulling or leading things in unison, which evolved into both 'leadership' and 'proportion/ratio' meanings.

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