About
The character 麟, most commonly encountered in the compound 麒麟 for the auspicious mythical beast, is structurally composed of the semantic radical 鹿, meaning deer, which classifies it among hoofed animals, and the component 粦, which primarily served a phonetic function in its formation. Its etymology centers on the qilin, a composite creature of Chinese legend symbolizing serenity and prophetic manifestation during virtuous reigns. While its form has remained stable, the meaning of 麟 gradually extended beyond the mythological entity to acquire a figurative layer, denoting anything of extraordinary rarity or supreme quality, as encapsulated in the classical expression 麟角. This conceptual expansion allowed the character to be employed in literary contexts and personal nomenclature, emphasizing exceptionalism rather than solely its mythical origin.
Example Sentences Hide
麟是一种传说中的动物。
麒麟是中国古代的神兽。
这幅画上有一只麒麟。
传说麒麟会给人们带来好运。
博物馆里收藏着一件麒麟造型的玉器。
在古代建筑中，麒麟的石雕很常见。
他的梦想是成为影视界的麒麟之才。
这部小说的作者被誉为文坛麟角。