霝

líng

雨 + 𠱠

Definitions

líng raindrops

Etymology

Pictograph of drops of rain.

About

Originally a pictograph of falling raindrops, the character 霝 is built from the rain radical 雨 placed over three 口 elements. In ordinary usage, 口 signifies a mouth or receptacle, but here it depicts multiple raindrops falling. Together, the components form a visual representation of rain, with the three 口 suggesting scattered droplets in the air. Historically, 霝 provided the sound and core meaning for the more complex character 靈, which deals with spirits and the supernatural. Meanwhile, 霝 continued to appear in classical literature as a term for falling rain or scattered precipitation.