About
The character "麟" originally designated a mythical auspicious beast within Chinese tradition, often described as a composite creature with attributes of several animals. Its structure is composed of the radical "鹿" meaning deer, which categorizes it as an animal, and the phonetic component "粦" which suggests its pronunciation. In early usage, "麟" specifically referred to the male of the qilin pair, but its application broadened to represent the creature as a whole. Over time, the term's meaning extended from the purely mythological to a metaphorical sense, denoting something exceptionally rare or illustrious, which led to its adoption in personal names and classical idioms to symbolize excellence and good fortune.
Etymology Hide
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。