令

líng, lǐng, lìng

亽 + 龴

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

lìng (verb) to order; to command

lìng (noun) command; order

lìng (verb) to cause; to make something happen

Etymology

Depicts a person (卩) receiving commands from a mouth (口) above them.

About

Originally, 令 depicted a kneeling person (卩) receiving orders from a mouth (口) above. Its primary meanings are 'order,' 'command,' or 'decree,' and as a verb it means to command or to cause. Over time, it also became a title for certain officials and an honorific prefix used when respectfully referring to someone else's relatives, such as parents or children.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个消息令人高兴。

Zhè ge xiāoxi lìng rén gāoxìng.

This news makes people happy.

他下令开始行动。

Tā xià lìng kāishǐ xíngdòng.

He ordered the start of the action.

老师的命令必须遵守。

Lǎoshī de mìnglìng bìxū zūnshǒu.

The teacher's orders must be obeyed.

这种天气令我不想出门。

Zhè zhǒng tiānqì lìng wǒ bù xiǎng chūmén.

This kind of weather makes me not want to go out.

公司颁布了新法令。

Gōngsī bānbù le xīn fǎlìng.

The company promulgated new regulations.

他的行为令人失望。

Tā de xíngwéi lìng rén shīwàng.

His behavior is disappointing.

政府下令禁止聚集，以防止疫情扩散。

Zhèngfǔ xià lìng jìnzhǐ jùjí, yǐ fángzhǐ yìqíng kuòsàn.

The government ordered a ban on gatherings to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

这项政策令经济发展迅速，但也令环境污染加剧。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè lìng jīngjì fāzhǎn xùnsù, dàn yě lìng huánjìng wūrǎn jiājù.

This policy has caused rapid economic development, but it has also exacerbated environmental pollution.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亽

Component: 龴

Example Words