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March 24, 2026
呤lìng(ling4)
The character 呤 (lìng) primarily refers to a type of chemical compound known as purine, which is an essential building block of DNA and RNA. Additionally, it can mean 'to whisper,' indicating a soft or quiet manner of speaking. It is commonly used in scientific contexts as well as in everyday conversations about communication.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of whispering carries a connotation of intimacy or secrecy, often seen in close relationships or confidential discussions, reflecting the importance of discretion in communication.
Memory Tip
Think of 呤 (lìng) as a whispering sound that lingers in the air. The character has the mouth radical '口' (kǒu), suggesting speaking, combined with the sound 'ling,' which can remind you of a gentle breeze or soft voice whispering secrets.
Meanings of 呤
lìng(ling4)
primary
1purine
2purine (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 呤
呤Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 呤
Podcast: 呤
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AI Study Notes for 呤
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 呤 (lìng) as a whispering sound that lingers in the air. The character has the mouth radical '口' (kǒu), suggesting speaking, combined with the sound 'ling,' which can remind you of a gentle breeze or soft voice whispering secrets.
Usage Notes
This character is quite specialized and is more commonly encountered in scientific texts. Learners should be cautious about its pronunciation as it may be confused with similar-sounding characters. It is important to use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid miscommunication.
HSK Study Tips
While 呤 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can be useful to understand in contexts related to chemistry and biology. Students should focus on the pronunciation and the context in which it is used, especially in academic settings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of whispering carries a connotation of intimacy or secrecy, often seen in close relationships or confidential discussions, reflecting the importance of discretion in communication.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 呤 with similar-sounding characters like 灵 (líng), which means 'spirit' or 'quick.' It's important to remember the distinct meaning and pronunciation of each character to avoid confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 呤
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Cultural Notes for 呤
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of whispering carries a connotation of intimacy or secrecy, often seen in close relationships or confidential discussions, reflecting the importance of discretion in communication.
Word Family of 呤
Words Containing This Character5
呤lìngto whisper
嘌呤purine (loanword)
黄嘌呤xanthine黃嘌呤
腺嘌呤adenine nucleotide (A, pairs with thymine T 胸腺嘧啶 in DNA and with uracil U 尿嘧啶 in RNA)
鸟嘌呤guanine nucleotide (G, pairs with cytosine C 胞嘧啶 in DNA and RNA)鳥嘌呤
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 呤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 呤
In casual contexts, 呤 can refer to whispering, so you might use it when discussing how someone speaks softly.
Yes, it is primarily used in chemistry to refer to purines, which are significant in biological processes.
Make sure to use the fourth tone, pronounced as 'lìng', to ensure clarity.
