Definitions

líng (noun) spirit; soul
líng (adjective) quick; alert; clever
líng (adjective) efficacious; effective
líng (adjective) supernatural; magical

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 灵 (líng) simplifies the traditional form 靈, an ideogrammatic compound with the 雨 (yǔ) radical for rain at the top, three 口 (kǒu) mouth elements in the middle, and the 巫 (wū) character for shaman at the bottom. This structure originally depicted shamans chanting to invoke rain, representing divine connection or supernatural power. The simplified form combines the 彐 (jiè) component at the top with the 火 (huǒ) radical for fire at the bottom. Its meaning expanded from shamanistic rainmaking and divine intervention to encompass spirits, souls, and deities, and later extended to describe anything highly effective, clever, agile, or mystically efficacious.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个玩具很活。

Zhège wánjù hěn línghuó.

This toy is very flexible.

她突然有了创作的感。

Tā tūrán yǒule chuàngzuò de línggǎn.

She suddenly had inspiration for creation.

小狗的嗅觉非常敏。

Xiǎogǒu de xiùjué fēicháng língmǐn.

A puppy's sense of smell is very keen.

人们相信魂是不朽的。

Rénmen xiāngxìn línghún shì bù xiǔ de.

People believe the soul is immortal.

这台机器今天失了。

Zhè tái jīqì jīntiān shīlíng le.

This machine malfunctioned today.

这个风景区充满了气。

Zhège fēngjǐngqū chōngmǎnle língqì.

This scenic area is full of a mystical aura.

芝是一种珍贵的药材。

Língzhī shì yī zhǒng zhēnguì de yàocái.

Ganoderma lucidum is a precious medicinal herb.

他头脑光,总能想出办法。

Tā tóunǎo língguāng, zǒng néng xiǎng chū bànfǎ.

His mind is sharp, and he can always figure out a way.