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囹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
língprison, enclosuren, 8 strokes, radical 囗, rank #65589, Very Hard
líng(ling2) T2
  1. 1prison, enclosure
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

líng(ling2)

The character 囹 (líng) refers to a prison or enclosure, often used in legal or formal contexts. It conveys the idea of confinement and can be associated with the concept of imprisonment or being trapped within walls.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#65589DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In historical China, prisons were often associated with the legal system and could be places of severe punishment, reflecting the importance of law and order in society. The concept of imprisonment has deep roots in Chinese literature and folklore.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'ring' (the sound of 'líng') that encircles a person, enclosing them within a prison. The character itself has a structure that resembles walls surrounding a space, reinforcing the idea of confinement.

Meanings of 囹

líng(ling2)
1prison, enclosure
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 囹

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 囹

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AI Study Notes for 囹

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'ring' (the sound of 'líng') that encircles a person, enclosing them within a prison. The character itself has a structure that resembles walls surrounding a space, reinforcing the idea of confinement.

Usage Notes

因 (yīn) and 囹 (líng) are often confused due to similar pronunciation. It's important to use 囹 in formal contexts regarding imprisonment. Common collocations include 囹圄 (líng yǔ), meaning prison or jail.

HSK Study Tips

While 囹 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to words about places and confinement, which might appear in higher levels. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in compound words and legal contexts.

Cultural Note

In historical China, prisons were often associated with the legal system and could be places of severe punishment, reflecting the importance of law and order in society. The concept of imprisonment has deep roots in Chinese literature and folklore.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 囹 with similar-sounding characters like 令 (lìng) due to the pronunciation. For example, saying '我在令中' (wǒ zài lìng zhōng) instead of '我在囹中' (wǒ zài líng zhōng) when referring to being in prison.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 囹

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Etymology of 囹

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

enclosure

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 囹?

Decomposition of 囹

IDS Structure⿴囗令
Full Character
=
wei2
enclosing
Ling2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 囹?

Write 囹

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

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Cultural Notes for 囹

🏮Cultural insight

In historical China, prisons were often associated with the legal system and could be places of severe punishment, reflecting the importance of law and order in society. The concept of imprisonment has deep roots in Chinese literature and folklore.

Word Family of 囹

Words Containing This Character3
身陷囹圄thrown into prison
língprison
囹圄prison
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 身陷囹圄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 囹

In a legal context, 囹 refers to a prison or jail where individuals are held in confinement.