邻

鄰/隣

lín

令 + 阝

Definitions

lín (noun,adjective) neighbor; adjacent

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鄰.

Semantic: 阝 Phonetic: 令

About

邻 is the simplified version of 鄰, and both are phonosemantic compounds. The right-side radical 阝, derived from 邑, indicates a city, town, or settlement, thereby associating the character with human habitation and spatial organization. In the simplified form, the phonetic element is 令; the traditional form instead uses 粦 to supply the sound. The character denotes neighbors or neighboring places, people or locations that are physically adjacent, and also conveys the abstract concept of proximity. Historically, it referred to basic administrative units of households in ancient societal structures. Common compound words extend the meaning to adjacent territories, close relationships, and border areas.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他是我的邻居。

Tā shì wǒ de línjū.

He is my neighbor.

我家邻居很友好。

Wǒ jiā línjū hěn yǒuhǎo.

My neighbor is very friendly.

中国有很多邻国。

Zhōngguó yǒu hěnduō lín guó.

China has many neighboring countries.

我的邻座同学在睡觉。

Wǒ de línzuò tóngxué zài shuìjiào.

My classmate sitting next to me is sleeping.

邻居帮助我找到了猫。

Línjū bāngzhù wǒ zhǎodàole māo.

The neighbor helped me find my cat.

我们和邻国关系很好。

Wǒmen hé línguó guānxì hěn hǎo.

We have good relations with the neighboring country.

邻家的小孩经常来玩。

Línjiā de xiǎohái jīngcháng lái wán.

The child from the neighboring family often comes to play.

相邻的两家公司正在合作。

Xiānglín de liǎng jiā gōngsī zhèngzài hézuò.

The two adjacent companies are collaborating.

Related Characters

Component: 令

Component: 阝

邻