领

領

lǐng

令 + 页

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

lǐng (verb) to lead; to guide

lǐng (noun) neck; collar

lǐng (verb) to receive

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound. Simplified form of 領.

Semantic: 页 Phonetic: 令

About

The character 领 (traditional: 領) is a phono-semantic compound combining the phonetic component 令 (lìng, "command") with the semantic radical 页/頁 ("head"). Its original meaning was "neck", the physical link between body and head. From this anatomical role of guiding the head, the sense naturally extended to abstract concepts of guiding and leading, as well as to the collar of a garment. Today, 领 commonly refers to leadership, the act of receiving or taking possession, and the clothing collar, demonstrating a clear semantic evolution from a specific body part to broader ideas of direction and authority.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他领着我们参观。

Tā lǐng zhe wǒmen cānguān.

He led us on a tour.

我领取了新的护照。

Wǒ lǐngqǔ le xīn de hùzhào.

I collected my new passport.

这件衬衫的领子很干净。

Zhè jiàn chènshān de lǐngzi hěn gānjìng.

The collar of this shirt is very clean.

这位领导非常关心员工。

Zhè wèi lǐngdǎo fēicháng guānxīn yuángōng.

This leader cares a lot about the employees.

她终于领悟了其中的道理。

Tā zhōngyú lǐngwù le qízhōng de dàolǐ.

She finally understood the principle behind it.

他率领团队完成了艰巨的任务。

Tā shuàilǐng tuánduì wánchéng le jiānjù de rènwù.

He led the team to complete the arduous mission.

两国之间的领土争端已经持续多年。

Liǎng guó zhī jiān de lǐngtǔ zhēngduān yǐjīng chíxù duō nián.

The territorial dispute between the two countries has lasted for many years.

这项技术的领先地位源自持续创新。

Zhè xiàng jìshù de lǐngxiān dìwèi yuán zì chíxù chuàngxīn.

The leading position of this technology stems from continuous innovation.

Related Characters

Component: 令

Component: 页

领