A dǒu lì is a traditional conical hat woven from bamboo strips or palm leaves, commonly worn by farmers, fishermen, and rural laborers in China and other parts of East Asia to shield against sun and rain. Its name reflects its shape: the character dǒu originally refers to an ancient square-bottomed measuring vessel with sloping sides — when inverted, it resembles the hat’s broad, tapering silhouette. The second character, lì, means 'hat' or 'bonnet' and appears in other headwear terms like zhān lì (felt hat) and máo lì (straw hat).

Historically made by hand using locally sourced plant materials, the dǒu lì symbolizes rustic simplicity and agrarian life. Though rarely used for daily wear today, it remains a cultural icon — appearing in poetry, folk art, martial arts films, and traditional festivals. Its lightweight, breathable design makes it well-suited to humid climates and outdoor work in fields or on water.