Young Syaoran.

Syaoran has short chestnut-colored hair and large amber eyes. While shorter than some of his male classmates, such as Yamazaki, he is taller than both Sakura and Tomoyo. His appearance evolves over time, as he is shown to have grown in Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card and later in the Clear Card series.

It is mentioned that he resembles his father in his youth, though there are no photographs in his home for a direct comparison.

Syaoran in Anime.

Syaoran Li initially comes across as a cold and cynical ten-year-old. As the heir to the prestigious Li clan of sorcerers from Hong Kong, with ties to Clow Reed’s family, Syaoran strongly believed that he, not Sakura Kinomoto, should be the one to capture and inherit the Clow Cards.

He starts off as Sakura’s rival, capturing a few cards for himself in the anime. At first, he is distant and critical of her, often pointing out her flaws and clumsiness. He never addresses her by her first name until the third season, and his attitude toward her is cold, even socially awkward.

Syaoran’s loner personality stems from his upbringing, where he was taught to be independent and self-reliant. However, as the series progresses, especially when Sakura is officially recognized as the mistress of the Clow Cards, Syaoran starts to let go of his rivalry and becomes a reliable ally and close friend. As they spend more time together, he begins to develop romantic feelings for her, though he gets frustrated when she shows more interest in other boys.

Despite these growing feelings, Syaoran doesn’t admit them right away. It’s only after receiving advice from Yue and Tomoyo—whom he confides in—that he begins to understand his emotions. However, Sakura remains oblivious to his feelings, thinking of him only as a close friend. It’s only after their final confrontation with Eriol that Syaoran finds the courage to confess his love for Sakura. By the end of the series, he has softened considerably, evolving from a rival into a genuinely caring and affectionate person.

Syaoran Li and Sakura Kinomoto

Syaoran Li and Sakura Kinomoto
In the beginning, Syaoran is antagonistic towards Sakura, believing that they should compete for the Clow Cards to determine who is worthy of wielding them. On his first day at Sakura’s school, before even knowing her name, he glares at her, which causes her concern. During recess, Syaoran criticizes Sakura as the “hopeless” holder of the cards and physically attempts to steal them from her, only to be stopped by Touya and Yukito. This marks the start of their rocky relationship. Syaoran often ignores Sakura, rejecting her attempts to befriend him, seeing her merely as a rival.

Despite his cold attitude, Syaoran occasionally helps Sakura in critical situations, and his rivalry with her slowly evolves into a cooperative dynamic as they work together to capture the cards. It is only later in the series that Syaoran begins to see Sakura as a friend, though he doesn’t fully acknowledge this until halfway through the series.

Syaoran starts to blush when Sakura hugs him, and over time, he becomes shy around her, growing increasingly concerned for her safety and well-being, a feeling he doesn’t quite understand at first. After Sakura is officially declared the new master of the Clow Cards, Syaoran respects her, despite initially feeling like a failure. He congratulates her and smiles, showing his admiration.

In the third season, Syaoran plans to return to Hong Kong now that Sakura is the official mistress of the cards. However, when Eriol Hiiragizawa arrives from the United Kingdom and begins charming Sakura, Syaoran becomes increasingly jealous and uncomfortable. When Sakura shows sadness over his departure, Syaoran decides to extend his stay in Tomoeda.

By this point, Syaoran’s feelings for Sakura have transformed from rivalry to a simple crush and, eventually, to true love. Sakura’s warm smiles and cheerful nature cause him to blush more frequently. Syaoran finds himself jealous of Eriol’s growing closeness to Sakura and, after receiving advice from Yue and Tomoyo, admits his love for her, though he struggles to confess due to his nervousness.

After Sakura is rejected by Yukito, Syaoran comforts her, telling her she will find someone who truly loves her. Despite feeling like a burden, he is encouraged by Tomoyo to confess his feelings. After a final confrontation with Eriol, Syaoran finally admits his love for Sakura, though she is surprised, having always seen him as a close friend. Sakura then realizes that she has feelings for him too, and in a rush of emotion, she runs to meet him at the airport before he leaves for Hong Kong. Syaoran offers her a homemade teddy bear, a gesture that symbolizes their deepening bond.

In the second movie, four months after the series ends, Syaoran returns to Japan with his cousin, Meiling Li. Despite a series of comedic miscommunications, Sakura finally confesses her feelings to him, and Syaoran, in return, expresses his love. The movie ends with Sakura leaping into Syaoran’s arms, marking their romantic union.

In the manga andClear Card Arc, their relationship progresses differently. After a battle, Syaoran confesses his love to Sakura in Penguin Park, leaving her in shock. He then prepares to leave for Hong Kong, but before he can depart, Sakura confesses her feelings in return, along with a teddy bear she made for him. Syaoran promises to return once his duties in Hong Kong are complete, and Sakura vows to wait for him. Two years later, Syaoran returns, and they joyfully reunite, now officially dating.

Yukito Tsukishiro
Before his romantic involvement with Sakura, Syaoran had a brief crush on Yukito Tsukishiro. He often blushed and awkwardly ran away whenever Yukito was near, especially when he noticed Sakura’s crush on him. However, it is later revealed that Syaoran’s attraction to Yukito was due to the moon magic that Yukito’s guardian, Yue, embodied. While Syaoran admires Yukito as a friend and upperclassman, his feelings were not romantic in nature.

Tomoyo Daidouji
Syaoran and Tomoyo initially had a neutral relationship, with Syaoran hardly noticing her. As he began to open up to others, they became close friends, though Tomoyo frequently teased him about his feelings for Sakura. She also enjoyed provoking his jealousy by mentioning Eriol’s charm. Despite this, Tomoyo provided Syaoran with valuable advice on his feelings for Sakura. Syaoran, in turn, was bemused by Tomoyo’s obsession with recording Sakura’s adventures and was dismayed by her insistence on designing outfits for him inClear Card.

Touya Kinomoto
Syaoran and Sakura’s older brother, Touya, never got along well, particularly due to Touya’s overprotective nature toward Sakura. From the start, Syaoran and Touya often clashed, with Syaoran antagonizing Sakura’s brother and Touya sensing Syaoran’s feelings for her. Despite their tension, Touya eventually respects Syaoran, acknowledging him as someone who will protect Sakura. By the time Syaoran and Sakura begin dating, the two still have a strained relationship, but Syaoran values Touya’s trust in him.

Syaoran and Kero fighting.

Cerberus
Syaoran’s initial cold treatment of Sakura leads to a strained relationship with Cerberus. Syaoran often refers to him as a “plush toy” or “stuffed animal,” while Cerberus retorts with insults like “kid” or “brat.” Their animosity likely stems from their differing magical affiliations—Syaoran’s power comes from the moon, while Cerberus derives his strength from the sun. Despite their differences, they tolerate each other for Sakura’s sake, though they rarely have civil conversations, especially inClear Card, where their interactions are minimal.

Meiling Li
Syaoran and Meiling, cousins since childhood, initially had a strained relationship. While Meiling had no magical abilities, she trained in martial arts with Syaoran. Although Syaoran preferred solitude, he eventually warmed to her, especially when he braved a storm to retrieve her lost pet bird. Meiling, who developed a crush on Syaoran, pressured him into a romantic engagement, despite Syaoran’s lack of romantic feelings. After Syaoran falls in love with Sakura, he and Meiling call off their engagement, but they remain on good terms. Despite her heartbreak, Meiling supports Syaoran’s relationship with Sakura.

• Magical & Supernatural Detection
  Syaoran’s magical sensitivity is more advanced than Sakura’s, owing to his extensive training. He can sense the presence of Clow Cards over a larger area and can detect them even if they are cloaked or hidden. His ability to detect magical energy is heightened when he uses hisRashinban, a tool that helps him extend his range and precision.

• Master Swordsmanship
  Syaoran is an exceptional swordsman, proficient with a Chinesejian(a double-edged straight sword). This sword can be sealed in the form of a pendant, and when unsheathed, it serves as a conduit for his magical abilities. His swordsmanship is demonstrated multiple times throughout the series, where he uses the sword both as a weapon and a tool for channeling his magic.

• Martial Artist
  Trained in martial arts since childhood, Syaoran is highly skilled in physical combat. His training is influenced by Chinese martial arts, and this is showcased in his various encounters. One example is when he strikes a martial arts pose when first meeting Touya. He also uses his martial arts skills in battle against certain Clow Cards, such as when he kicks asideThe Fightcard to prevent it from harming Meiling and when he fightsThe Twincard alongside Meiling.

• Elemental Magic
  Syaoran is capable of using elemental magic through the use of ofuda—enchanted slips of paper that channel his magical energy. With these, he can summon and control the four main elements of nature: Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. Each ofuda is inscribed with a specific incantation that allows him to manipulate the elements in various ways, such as creating shields, attacks, or controlling natural forces during battles. This versatility in elemental magic gives him a distinct advantage when confronting magical challenges.

Cards
Although Syaoran claims nine Clow Cards for himself in the anime, he never actually captures any of them, as the act of capturing can only be performed by using Sakura’s sealing wand. However, if Syaoran plays 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 autonomously floats to its owner after capture. While Sakura writes her name in romaji on the Clow Cards, Syaoran writes his name in Chinese characters.

The Clow Cards he claims in the anime are:

• The Time
• The Storm
• The Return
• The Dash
• The Freeze
• The Cloud (which he gives to Sakura)
• The Dream
• The Sand (which Sakura later gives to him)
• The Twin

With the exception of The Return, The Sand, and The Twin cards, all of the Clow Cards Syaoran claims fall under the influence of the Moon, reflecting his own magic.

During the Clear Cardarc, Syaoran uses a teddy bear that he created for Sakura, which has been enchanted by his mother, to take possession of all fifty-three Sakura Cards. This is done to protect Sakura, as her powers grow uncontrollably while creating the Clear Cards. With the help of the cards, who also wish to protect Sakura, Syaoran is able to rewrite the contract on the cards, replacing Sakura’s name with his. This grants him control over their powers, effectively making him the new master of the cards.

When the cards pass under Syaoran’s possession, they adopt his Moon powers, and a Crescent Moon symbol appears in their designs. The cards continue to move with a desire to protect Sakura, as they have a deep love for her. Syaoran’s possession of the cards is made possible by a spell arranged by his mother to prevent Sakura’s powers from growing further during the creation of theClear Cards. However, this process is extremely exhausting for him and takes much longer than anticipated.

Despite this, when the world is rewritten by a taboo magic, the cards return to Sakura’s possession as if they had never left, completing the cycle of ownership.

Syaoran’s given name, Syaoran  (小狼), means “little wolf” in Chinese. An interesting note is that it sounds similar to Shao Long (小龍), meaning “little dragon,” which was also the given name of legendary actor and martial artist Bruce Lee (李小龍, pinyin: Lǐ Xiǎolóng). 

His surname, Li (李), is one of the most common surnames in China and means “plum.”

Syaoran’s name has various pronunciations and translations depending on the country, with common variations including Syaoran, Xiaolang, Shaoran, and Showron.