Definitions

líng (noun) water caltrop

Etymology phono-semantic

grass

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 菱 is a phono-semantic compound. Its top component, the grass radical 艹, places it within the botanical category of plants. The lower component, 夌, provides the "ling" pronunciation. 菱 specifically refers to the water caltrop, an aquatic plant with floating leaves and edible, hard-shelled seeds that often have horn-like projections. Due to the geometric shape of its leaves and seeds, the character is also commonly used in modern contexts to denote a rhombus or diamond shape.

Example Sentences Hide

这图形是形。

Zhè túxíng shì língxíng.

This shape is a rhombus.

艺术家画了一个形。

Yìshùjiā huà le yí gè língxíng.

The artist drew a rhombus.

池塘里种着许多角。

Chítáng lǐ zhòng zhe xǔduō língjiǎo.

There are many water caltrops planted in the pond.

我喜欢吃煮熟的角。

Wǒ xǐhuan chī zhǔ shú de língjiǎo.

I like to eat boiled water caltrops.

那片湖面漂着几片叶。

Nà piàn húmiàn piāo zhe jǐ piàn língyè.

A few water chestnut leaves are floating on that lake's surface.

她佩戴着一枚形的胸针。

Tā pèidài zhe yì méi língxíng de xiōngzhēn.

She is wearing a rhombus-shaped brooch.

这条裙子有格纹的图案。

Zhè tiáo qúnzi yǒu líng gé wén de tú'àn.

This dress has a diamond grid pattern.

花的倒影在波光中摇曳不定。

Línghuā de dàoyǐng zài bōguāng zhōng yáoyè bù dìng.

The reflection of the water chestnut flowers flickers unsteadily in the shimmering light.