Definitions
Li is a Chinese unit of distance, equivalent to about one-third of a mile or 500 meters.
Example
The temple is located about 2 li from here.
Example
The marathon is 42.195 kilometers or 26.219 miles, which is equal to 84 li in China.
Lea is a noun that refers to a piece of grassland, especially one used for hay.
Example
The cows were grazing in the lea.
Example
The farmer harvested the hay from the lea.
Lee is a noun that refers to the sheltered side or the side away from the wind.
Example
The boat was anchored in the lee of the island.
Example
The hikers took shelter from the storm on the lee side of the mountain.
Tips To Remember the Differences
Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:
To remember the difference between these homophones, you can associate li with a unit of distance in China, lea with grassland where cows graze, and lee with the sheltered side away from the wind.
Remember this!
Remember, li is a Chinese unit of distance, lea is grassland, and lee is the sheltered side away from the wind.
