About
The character 伶, formed by the person radical 亻 combined with the phonetic element 令, originally designated musicians or entertainers serving in ancient courts, with its structure hinting at a person associated with the sound or command implied by 令. Over time, its application expanded to encompass theatrical performers and actors in a broader sense, and it further evolved to contribute to the term 伶俐, which conveys cleverness or sharpness rather than its original artistic connotations. This semantic development occurred while the character's written form persisted without alteration, maintaining its compositional clarity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个小女孩很伶俐。
他一个人孤苦伶仃。
那位伶人表演精彩。
她的回答显得十分伶俐。
老人伶仃地住在小屋里。
那个伶人的故事很感人。
尽管他孤苦伶仃,但他从不抱怨。
这个孩子不仅伶俐可爱,而且学习非常努力。