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陵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
陵língmoundng, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #21101, Hard
陵língtombng, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #21101, Hard
陵línghillng, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #21101, Hard
陵língmountainng, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #21101, Hard
陵línghill, mound; mausoleumng, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #21101, Hard
líng(ling2) T2
  1. 1mound
  2. 2tomb
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March 24, 2026
陵líng(ling2)

The character 陵 (líng) primarily refers to a mound or hill, often in the context of tombs or mausoleums. It is commonly used in historical and cultural references, particularly those related to burial practices in ancient China.

Strokes10Radical阝Frequency#21101DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

陵 is significant in Chinese culture as it relates to ancestral worship and the importance of tomb construction, particularly in dynastic history. The Ming Dynasty's Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is a well-known example of this cultural practice.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'ling' (sounds like líng) where ancient kings are laid to rest on a grassy 'mound' (陵). The character's radicals suggest elevation (土 for earth) and structure, symbolizing a sacred place above the ground.

Meanings of 陵

líng(ling2)
1mound
2tomb
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 陵

陵Simplified
10Strokes
阝Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#21101Frequency Rank

Podcast: 陵

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Podcast: 陵

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 陵

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'ling' (sounds like líng) where ancient kings are laid to rest on a grassy 'mound' (陵). The character's radicals suggest elevation (土 for earth) and structure, symbolizing a sacred place above the ground.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 陵 with similar characters that denote different kinds of hills or mounds. It is often used in formal contexts, especially related to history. Common collocations include 陵园 (língyuán - cemetery) and 陵墓 (língmù - tomb).

HSK Study Tips

As this character is not in the HSK system, focus on its application in historical contexts and vocabulary building around burial traditions. Relate it to other characters for places or structures to enhance retention.

Cultural Note

陵 is significant in Chinese culture as it relates to ancestral worship and the importance of tomb construction, particularly in dynastic history. The Ming Dynasty's Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is a well-known example of this cultural practice.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 陵 with similar characters like 岭 (lǐng - ridge) or 墓 (mù - grave). Remember, 陵 specifically refers to a mound or tomb, not just any hill.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 陵

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Etymology of 陵

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A hill 阝 where people are laid to rest 夌; 夌 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 陵?

Decomposition of 陵

IDS Structure⿰阝夌
陵Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
夌ling2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 陵?

Write 陵

陵

Practice writing 陵 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 陵

陵 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

从我们的房子里向外望去，景色宜人，一直能看到科茨沃尔德丘____。

Our house has got a splendid view across to the Cotswolds.

Example Sentences for 陵 (5)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
从我们的房子里向外望去，景色宜人，一直能看到科茨沃尔德丘陵。

cóng wǒ mén de fáng zǐ lǐ xiàng wài wàng qù， ， jǐng sè yí， rén ， yī zhí néng kàn dào kē cí wò ěr dé。

Our house has got a splendid view across to the Cotswolds.
2
帕萨迪纳坐落于圣加布里埃尔山麓的丘陵地带。

pà sà dí nà zuò luò yú shèng jiā bù lǐ āi ěr shān lù de qiū líng dì dài。

Pasadena lies in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains.
3
上个星期，这个部门的筑路机开始将特怀福德丘陵地带的浸水草甸推平。

shàng gè xīng qī， ， zhè gè bù mén de zhù lù jī kāi shǐ jiāng tè huái fú dé qiū líng dì dài de jìn shuǐ cǎo diàn tuī。

Last week, the department's road builders began to bulldoze a water meadow on Twyford Down.
4
这一带地形平坦而多沼泽,再往远去地势隆起,形成矮山陵地.

zhè yī dài dì xíng píng tǎn ér duō zhǎo zé, , zài wǎng yuǎn qù dì shì lóng, qǐ , xíng chéng ǎi shān.

The land is flat and marshy before rising to a spine of low hills.
5
这丘陵上覆盖着11英寸厚的大雪.

zhè qiū líng shàng fù gài zháo11 11 yīng cùn hòu de dà.

The hill was buried under 11 inches of snow.

Cultural Notes for 陵

🏮Cultural insight

陵 is significant in Chinese culture as it relates to ancestral worship and the importance of tomb construction, particularly in dynastic history. The Ming Dynasty's Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is a well-known example of this cultural practice.

Word Family of 陵

Words Containing This Character20
陵língmound
陵墓tomb
金陵common place name
丘陵qiūlínghills
格陵兰Greenland格陵蘭
江陵Jiangling county in Jingzhou 荊州|荆州[Jīng​zhōu], Hubei
陵园cemetery陵園
格陵兰岛Greenland格陵蘭島
涪陵Fuling suburbs of Chongqing municipality, formerly in Sichuan
中山陵Dr Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum in Nanjing
嘉陵江Jialing river in Sichuan (a tributary of the Yangtze)
铜陵Tongling prefecture level city and county in Anhui銅陵
武陵Wuling district of Changde city 常德市[Cháng​dé​shì], Hunan
广陵Guangling district of Yangzhou city 揚州市|扬州市[Yáng​zhōu​shì], Jiangsu廣陵
乾陵Qianling at Xianyang 咸陽市|咸阳市 in Shaanxi, burial site of third Tang emperor 高宗 and empress Wuzetian 武則天|武则天
嘉陵Jialing district of Nanchong city 南充市[Nán​chōng​shì], Sichuan
东陵Eastern tombs東陵
东陵区Dongling district of Shenyang city 瀋陽市|沈阳市, Liaoning東陵區
陵寝tomb (of king or emperor)陵寢
海陵Hailing district of Taizhou city 泰州市[Tài​zhōu​shì], Jiangsu
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 陵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 陵

In modern usage, 陵 often refers to historical sites or cemeteries, reflecting its roots in burial practices.