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苓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
língfungus, tuber; licoricex, 8 strokes, radical 艹, Very Hard
líng(ling2) T2
  1. 1fungus, tuber; licorice
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
líng(ling2)

苓 (líng) refers to certain types of fungi or tubers, often used in traditional Chinese medicine. It can also refer to licorice in some contexts. This character is commonly encountered in herbal medicine and discussions about dietary practices.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, various fungi, including 苓, are valued for their health benefits and are integral to many herbal remedies. This reflects the deep connection between nature and health in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a mushroom (the shape of 苓) growing in a lush forest. The top of the mushroom resembles a traditional Chinese hat, which reminds you of ancient herbalists gathering fungi for healing. The sound 'líng' can remind you of the word 'link', as these mushrooms link to health.

Meanings of 苓

líng(ling2)
1fungus, tuber; licorice
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 苓

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 苓

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 苓

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a mushroom (the shape of 苓) growing in a lush forest. The top of the mushroom resembles a traditional Chinese hat, which reminds you of ancient herbalists gathering fungi for healing. The sound 'líng' can remind you of the word 'link', as these mushrooms link to health.

Usage Notes

苓 is generally used in formal contexts, especially within medicine or herbal discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words; pay attention to the context to ensure clarity. It's often used in phrases related to health and wellness.

HSK Study Tips

苓 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, but understanding it can enhance your grasp of herbal medicine terms. Focus on related characters like 蘑菇 (mógū - mushroom) and other medicinal herbs to develop a broader vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, various fungi, including 苓, are valued for their health benefits and are integral to many herbal remedies. This reflects the deep connection between nature and health in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 苓 with similar characters like 菜 (cài, vegetable) or 蘑 (mó, mushroom). Always ensure you’re using the correct character based on the context of fungi or medicinal herbs.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 苓

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Etymology of 苓

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

plant

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 苓?

Decomposition of 苓

IDS Structure⿱艹令
Full Character
=
cao3
top
Ling2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 苓?

Write 苓

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 苓

苓 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

桂枝茯____丸是治疗什么病的?

What disease does bolus of cassia twig tuckahoe treat?

Example Sentences for 苓 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
桂枝茯苓丸是治疗什么病的?

guì zhī fú líng wán shì zhì liáo shí mó bìng de?

What disease does bolus of cassia twig tuckahoe treat?

Cultural Notes for 苓

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, various fungi, including 苓, are valued for their health benefits and are integral to many herbal remedies. This reflects the deep connection between nature and health in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 苓

Words Containing This Character3
茯苓fu ling
língfungus
猪苓poria mushroom (Polyporus umbellatus)豬苓
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 茯苓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 苓

苓 typically refers to certain fungi or tubers that are used for their medicinal properties.