HSK · Level 90
45 words
Chinese word
烈士
Pronunciation
Pinyinliè shì
Meaning
- nounmartyr
Example
为了国家，他被尊为烈士。wèi le guó jiā tā bèi zūn wèi liè shì
He was honored as a martyr for his country.
More examples
学校每年举行纪念活动，弘扬烈士精神。xué xiào měi nián jǔ xíng jì niàn huó dòng hóng yáng liè shì jīng shén
Every year, the school holds a memorial event to carry forward the spirit of martyrs.
Core concept
A publicly honored person whose death for a great cause becomes a lasting symbol of courage and sacrifice.
Common phrases
纪念烈士事迹jì niàn liè shì shì jì
commemorate the deeds of martyrs
弘扬烈士精神hóng yáng liè shì jīng shén
carry forward the spirit of martyrs
向烈士致敬xiàng liè shì zhì jìng
pay tribute to martyrs
Similar words
英雄yīng xióng: A person praised by many for bravely facing danger or serious difficulty.
牺牲者xī shēng zhě: A person who loses life or something important through an action, accident, or war.
义士yì shì: A person respected for courageously standing up for justice or the public good.
Definition in Chinese
为国家或民族利益而英勇牺牲、受到尊称以表彰其行为的人。wèi guó jiā huò mín zú lì yì ér yīng yǒng xī shēng shòu dào zūn chēng yǐ biǎo zhāng qí xíng wéi de rén
Word origin
烈 (liè, "fierce") + 士 (shì, "person") originally described a person of intense or heroic character, and the modern noun came to denote someone honored for dying in service of a cause.
Usage tips
- The word carries the weight of a memorial title, so casual use for an ordinary death can sound exaggerated or disrespectful.
Other meanings
- religious martyrnoun
Opposites
- 懦夫nuò fūcowardnoun
- 背叛者bèi pàn zhětraitornoun
Related words
- 烈士事迹liè shì shì jìmartyr's deedsnoun
- 烈士墓liè shì mùmartyr's tombnoun