How to pronounce Li Bai (李白) in Chinese
Li Bai is 李白, Lǐ Bái: "lee buy", a low tone then a rising one. Hear 李白 (lǐ bái) spoken, see what it means, then record yourself for instant AI feedback on your pronunciation.
李白
lǐ bái
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Characters & meanings
(surname) plum
white
Common mistake
Bái is "buy", not "bay". Lǐ before a rising tone stays low, with no rise.
Li Bai in Mandarin: what to get right
Li Bai (701–762) is one of the best-known poets of the Tang dynasty; 床前明月光, the first line of "Quiet Night Thought", is learned by every Chinese schoolchild. Older translations call him Li Po or Li Bo. 白 means "white".
How English speakers usually say it
English speakers say "Lee Bay" or "Lee Bye" with stress on the second syllable. Pinyin ai is "eye", and the tones carry the name.
How to say 李白 tone by tone
Lǐ: "lee", low; before a second tone the third tone keeps only its low part. Bái: unaspirated b, "buy", rising. Low, then up.
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