About
Originating from the character "楞", which combines the wood radical "木" with the element "四方" to imply angularity or a ridge, "愣" underwent a significant shift in both form and meaning when the wood radical was replaced by the heart radical "忄", a change that reflected a semantic transition from describing physical attributes to capturing mental states. The earlier form "楞" had gradually acquired connotations of confusion or obstinacy, likely through metaphorical extension from physical rigidity to mental inflexibility, which paved the way for the specialized character "愣" to denote the condition of being stunned, blank, or acting with rash impulsivity. This structural reconfiguration exemplifies how phonetic and semantic components can be adapted to refine linguistic expression, with "愣" now firmly associated with psychological dimensions rather than tangible qualities, emphasizing moments of mental absence or heedless behavior in contemporary usage.
Example Sentences Hide
他站在那发愣。
我愣了一下才明白。
别愣着，快帮忙！
她突然愣住不说话。
看到结果他愣了半天。
他发愣的样子很好笑。
尽管很惊讶，但他没有愣住。
在那种情况下，任何人都会愣一下的。