麗 means “beautiful, lovely”

れい · rei

Also: graceful, resplendent

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

うるわしい, うららか

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

レイ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 19 strokes

The story

A deer (鹿) with a matching pair (丽) on its head: picture a stag showing off perfect antlers. 麗 is polished beauty: きれい is often written 綺麗, 華麗 describes a dazzling performance, and 麗しい is lovely in a poetic way.

Used in 綺麗 (kirei, pretty/clean), 華麗 (karei, splendid), and 麗しい (uruwashii, lovely)

More from Grace & Beauty

• 粋 chic
• 醜 ugly
• 艶 luster
• 貌 appearance
• 態 attitude
• 姿 figure
• 華 splendor
• 妙 exquisite
• 柄 pattern
• 趣 taste
• 雅 elegance
• 飾 decorate

Learn 麗 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.