Meanings of 霖
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About 霖
Podcast: 霖
Podcast: 霖
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AI Study Notes for 霖
细雨 (xìyǔ) vs 霖 (lín): 细雨 refers to light rain, while 霖 implies a prolonged and heavy downpour.
Be careful not to confuse 霖 with similar-sounding words that relate to light rain or drizzle, as they convey different intensities. This term is more formal and is typically used in written contexts, like literature or weather forecasts. Common collocations include '霖雨' (long-lasting rain) or '春霖' (spring rain).
Although 霖 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be beneficial for learners at advanced levels to understand climate-related vocabulary. It connects with other weather-related terms like 雨 (yǔ, rain) and 雾 (wù, fog), and students should practice using it in context to describe rainy weather.
Learners often confuse 霖 with light rain terms like 毛毛雨 (máomao yǔ), which refers to drizzle. Remember that 霖 denotes a heavier, more sustained rainfall, so use it in contexts where significant rain is expected.
Pronunciation of 霖
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Etymology of 霖
Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 林 represents the sound.
rain
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 霖
Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 林 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half雨 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half林 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayrain
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 霖? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 霖
Identify the Components
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How to say monsoon; a long spell of rain in Chinese
“monsoon; a long spell of rain” in Chinese is霖
霖 (lín) refers to a prolonged period of rain, often associated with monsoon weather. It implies not just any rain, but a steady and continuous downpour that can last for several days. This term is commonly used in weather reports and discussions about climate patterns.
When to use 霖
Be careful not to confuse 霖 with similar-sounding words that relate to light rain or drizzle, as they convey different intensities. This term is more formal and is typically used in written contexts, like literature or weather forecasts. Common collocations include '霖雨' (long-lasting rain) or '春霖' (spring rain).
霖 or something close to it
细雨 (xìyǔ) vs 霖 (lín): 细雨 refers to light rain, while 霖 implies a prolonged and heavy downpour.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 霖 with light rain terms like 毛毛雨 (máomao yǔ), which refers to drizzle. Remember that 霖 denotes a heavier, more sustained rainfall, so use it in contexts where significant rain is expected.
Write 霖
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Practice writing 霖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 霖
霖 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 2 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.
Complete the Sentence
我看上一间又低,又小,又霉的的东房,这是在云____的隔壁一家叫大元的公寓里.
I've selected small mouldy room with a low ceiling in a hostel next to Yunlin's.
Example Sentences for 霖 (5)
Word Family of 霖
Compound Meaning
What does 霖 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 霖
The pronunciation is 'lín,' with a rising tone, similar to the word 'lin' in English but with a higher pitch.
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