Meanings of 伶
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About 伶
Podcast: 伶
Podcast: 伶
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AI Study Notes for 伶
聪明 (cōngmíng) vs 机灵 (jīlíng) — choose 伶 when emphasizing performance or acting ability over general cleverness.
伶 is often used in literary or somewhat formal contexts, so it may not be suitable for casual conversations. Be cautious with its nuances; while it can denote cleverness, it can also imply loneliness in certain contexts. Common collocations include 伶俐 (líng lì), meaning clever, and 伶人 (líng rén), referring to an actor.
Though 伶 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to other characters that describe intelligence or performance, such as 聪 (cōng, smart) and 演 (yǎn, to act). Focus on the nuances of cleverness and performance to deepen understanding.
Learners might confuse 伶 with similar-sounding characters like 灵 (líng), which means spirit or nimble. For example, saying 伶 (líng) when you mean 灵 (líng) can change the meaning entirely. Always check the context to ensure the right character is used.
Pronunciation of 伶
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Etymology of 伶
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound.
person
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 伶
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half令 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayperson
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 伶? 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 伶
Identify the Components
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How to say clever in Chinese
“clever” in Chinese is伶
The character 伶 (líng) primarily means clever or intelligent, often used to describe someone who is quick-witted. It can also refer to a solitary person or someone who acts, particularly in the context of traditional Chinese theater. This character evokes a sense of both intelligence and performance.
When to use 伶
伶 is often used in literary or somewhat formal contexts, so it may not be suitable for casual conversations. Be cautious with its nuances; while it can denote cleverness, it can also imply loneliness in certain contexts. Common collocations include 伶俐 (líng lì), meaning clever, and 伶人 (líng rén), referring to an actor.
伶 or something close to it
聪明 (cōngmíng) vs 机灵 (jīlíng) — choose 伶 when emphasizing performance or acting ability over general cleverness.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 伶 with similar-sounding characters like 灵 (líng), which means spirit or nimble. For example, saying 伶 (líng) when you mean 灵 (líng) can change the meaning entirely. Always check the context to ensure the right character is used.
Write 伶
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Practice writing 伶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 伶
伶 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 4 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
他是个不错的小伙子——聪明____俐而且性格开朗。
He was a nice lad — bright and with a sunny disposition.
Example Sentences for 伶 (3)
Word Family of 伶
Compound Meaning
What does 伶 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 伶
Common phrases include 伶俐 (líng lì) for clever and 伶人 (líng rén) for actor.
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