Chinese word

屹立

Pronunciation

Pinyinyì lì

Meaning

  • verbstand tall

Example

新城区中心屹立着几座摩天楼。xīn chéng qū zhōng xīn yì lì zhe jǐ zuò mó tiān lóu

Several skyscrapers stand tall in the center of the new urban district.

Illustration for 屹立 (stand tall)

More examples

海岸的灯塔依然屹立，指引着航船。hǎi àn de dēng tǎ yī rán yì lì zhí yǐn zhe háng chuán

The coastal lighthouse still stands tall, guiding ships.

Core concept

An imposing upright presence that remains steady instead of shifting, with height and firmness at its center.

Common phrases

  • 屹立在城市中心yì lì zài chéng shì zhōng xīn

    stand tall in the city center

  • 屹立着几座摩天楼yì lì zhe jǐ zuò mó tiān lóu

    several skyscrapers stand tall

  • 屹立在山巅yì lì zài shān diān

    stand tall on the mountaintop

Similar words

耸立sǒng lì: Soaring upward, especially when describing a tall building or mountain.
高耸gāo sǒng: Reaching noticeably high into the air, emphasizing impressive height.
矗立chù lì: Standing tall and quietly majestic, especially as a fixed landmark.

Definition in Chinese

直立高耸，也常用于比喻意志、地位等稳固不动。zhí lì gāo sǒng yě cháng yòng yú bǐ yù yì zhì dì wèi děng wěn gù bú dòng

Word origin

屹立 (yìlì, "stand tall") joins 屹 (yì, "towering") with 立 (lì, "stand"), so its form connects something that rises sharply with something that holds its ground.

Usage tips

  • Its tone is stronger and more literary than ordinary speech, making it especially useful for recognizing formal descriptions in newspapers and other written Chinese.

Other meanings

  • stand erectverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 屹立不倒yì lì bú dàostand tall without fallingidiom
  • 巍然屹立wēi rán yì lìstand majesticallyidiom

Word lists with this word