Syaoran Li

Syaoran Li in Cardcaptor Sakura

, is a fictional character in CLAMP's manga and anime series Cardcaptor Sakura. He is known as Li Showron in the English adaptation, Cardcaptors.

Syaoran is also the main character in CLAMP's crossover manga series Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE and its subsequent anime, Tsubasa Chronicle. His characterization here is mostly independent of his characterization in Cardcaptor Sakura and is discussed further below.

Name

Syaoran's name is Chinese in origin. His given name, , in both Chinese and Japanese, means "little wolf." His last name, , is a common Chinese surname that may also be spelled Lee.

In Cardcaptors his name is changed to "Li Showron." Li becomes his given name and Showron his family name.

In the early printing of the English manga, his name was presented in the Chinese naming order (family name then given name), Li Syaoran. Later printings switch the name to the Western order (given name then family name), Syaoran Li.

In the uncut English anime his name is romanized as Shaoran Li.

Character

Voiced by Motoko Kumai in the anime, Syaoran is a distant relative of Clow Reed, the creator of the Clow Cards. As a member of the Li clan of sorcerers from Hong Kong, of which Clow's mother was a member, Syaoran believes that he should be the one to inherit the Clow Cards, not Sakura Kinomoto. He first appears as an antagonist in the story, capturing a few cards for himself in the anime (though none in the manga). As the series progresses, and especially after Sakura is officially deemed the new master of the Cards, Syaoran drops his rivalistic attitude towards her and becomes her ally and friend, eventually falling in love with her and blushing at practically every sight of her.

Syaoran is shown, or at least implied, to be an excellent martial artist, swordsman (using a Chinese jian), and sorcerer. His magical abilities are centered around elemental spells using his sword or a collection of ofuda.

Although he claims certain Clow Cards for himself in the anime, Syaoran does not actually capture any Cards, as the act of capturing can only be performed using Sakura's sealing wand. However, if Syaoran has played a major role in weakening or cornering the Card entity prior to its capture, credit for the capture is awarded to him (as the materialized Card floats autonomously to its owner after capture). While Sakura writes her name in English on the Clow Cards, Syaoran writes his name in kanji.

Before his relationship with Sakura, Syaoran appeared to have an attraction to Yukito Tsukishiro, often blushing madly and abruptly running away at the sight of him. While Sakura was also in love with Yukito, Syaoran would compete with her for his affections, usually by getting him a better present, making him better food, or giving the better compliment. It is discovered later that Syaoran was just attracted to the magic of the moon that was residing within Yukito.

Syaoran and Cerberus often fight in the series, where Syaoran often calls him a "stuffed animal" while Cerberus retorts with patronizing terms like .

A major change to Syaoran's character in Cardcaptors involves elevating Li Showron to become the male lead character, rather than a supporting character for Sakura in Cardcaptor Sakura. Here, Li is also referred to as a Cardcaptor, while he has no such title in the original series (as Cerberus never selected him).

Phrases

* To use fire-based magic: "Now, Element, Fire!" (火神招来)
* To use wind-based magic: "Now, Element, Wind!" (風華招来)
* To use lightning-based magic: "Now, Element, Lighting! (雷帝招来)
* Syaoran's incantation::{

 玉帝有勅
 神硯四方
 金木水火土
 雷風 雷電神勅
 軽磨霹靂 電光転

急々如律令!