凛

凜

lǐn

冫 + 禀

Definitions

lǐn (adjective) cold; chilly

lǐn (adjective) stern; severe; austere

lǐn (adjective) awe-inspiring; majestic

Etymology phono-semantic

ice

Semantic: 冫 Phonetic: 禀

About

Traditional 凜 combines the ice radical 冫 on the left with the phonetic 稟 (bǐn) on the right; simplified 凛 uses 禀 (bǐn) instead. The character originally means piercing cold, later extending to shivering from cold. Over time it acquired the metaphorical meaning of stern or awe-inspiring, as a severe bearing can produce a chill like intense physical cold.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

冬天的风很凛冽。

Dōng tiān de fēng hěn lǐn liè.

The wind in winter is very piercing.

北方的寒风特别凛冽。

Běi fāng de hán fēng tè bié lǐn liè.

The cold wind in the north is especially piercing.

他站在凛冽的风中。

Tā zhàn zài lǐn liè de fēng zhōng.

He stands in the piercing wind.

他的表情十分凛然。

Tā de biǎo qíng shí fēn lǐn rán.

His expression is very stern.

气候凛冽且干燥。

Qì hòu lǐn liè qiě gān zào.

The climate is piercing cold and dry.

会场的气氛突然变得凛然。

Huì chǎng de qì fēn tū rán biàn dé lǐn rán.

The atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly became stern.

尽管寒风凛冽，他仍然坚持户外锻炼。

Jǐn guǎn hán fēng lǐn liè, tā réng rán jiān chí hù wài duàn liàn.

Despite the piercing cold wind, he still persists in outdoor exercise.

她以凛然不可侵犯的姿态面对挑战。

Tā yǐ lǐn rán bù kě qīn fàn de zī tài miàn duì tiǎo zhàn.

She faces the challenge with a stern and inviolable demeanor.

Related Characters

Component: 冫

Component: 禀

凛