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March 24, 2026
灵(靈)líng(ling2)
灵 (líng) conveys the idea of quickness, alertness, and effectiveness. It is often used in contexts related to the spirit or soul, indicating a connection to the spiritual world or the efficacy of actions. Common usages include expressions referring to spiritual or supernatural aspects, as well as describing someone who is clever or quick-witted.
Strokes7Radical彐Frequency#1745DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 灵 is closely tied to beliefs in spirits and the afterlife, where it represents not just quickness but also the presence of ancestors' spirits. The idea of 灵魂 (soul) is significant in traditional practices and festivals like Qingming.
Memory Tip
Imagine a quick spirit (灵) darting around and making things happen. The character has a radical that looks like a 'ghost' (亻) on the left, which connects to its meanings related to the spirit and soul. The sound 'líng' can be remembered by thinking of a 'link' to the spiritual realm, making things effective and quick.
Meanings of 灵
líng(ling2)
1quick
2alert
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 灵
灵Simplified
靈Traditional
7Strokes
彐Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1745Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 灵
Podcast: 灵
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AI Study Notes for 灵
Quick Contrast
神 (shén) - use 灵 (líng) for quickness and alertness, while 神 (shén) emphasizes divinity or supernatural power.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a quick spirit (灵) darting around and making things happen. The character has a radical that looks like a 'ghost' (亻) on the left, which connects to its meanings related to the spirit and soul. The sound 'líng' can be remembered by thinking of a 'link' to the spiritual realm, making things effective and quick.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 灵 with similar-sounding words. It is often used in more formal contexts when referring to spirits or effective actions. Common collocations include 灵魂 (línghún, soul) and 灵敏 (língmǐn, quick and sensitive).
HSK Study Tips
While 灵 is not currently on the HSK list, it connects to basic vocabulary about emotions and spirituality. Students should focus on its various meanings and how it interacts with other words about the mind and soul, especially in cultural contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 灵 is closely tied to beliefs in spirits and the afterlife, where it represents not just quickness but also the presence of ancestors' spirits. The idea of 灵魂 (soul) is significant in traditional practices and festivals like Qingming.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 灵 with 灵活 (línghuó, flexible) and misuse it in contexts where quickness or agility is implied. For example, saying '我很灵' (wǒ hěn líng) might be incorrect; instead, it would be better to say '我很灵活' (wǒ hěn línghuó).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 灵
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Grammar Patterns of 灵
灵 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 9 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
黑暗中我的听觉变得异常____敏。
In the dark my sense of hearing becomes so acute.
Common Confusions with 灵
灵vs铃
líng
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
灵vs零
líng
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "quick"?
or
Example Sentences for 灵 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
黑暗中我的听觉变得异常灵敏。
hēi àn zhōng wǒ de tīng jué biàn dé yì cháng líng mǐn。
In the dark my sense of hearing becomes so acute.
2
旋转木马的幽灵只不过是当地的迷信说法。
xuán zhuǎn mù mǎ de yōu líng zhī bù guò shì dāng dì de mí xìn shuō fǎ。
The phantom of the merry-go-round is just a local superstition.
Emergency cooling systems could fail and a reactor meltdown could occur.
9
那个管弦乐团现在更有纪律性了，却丧失了灵魂。
nà gè guǎn xián lè tuán xiàn zài gēng yǒu jì lǜ xìng le， ， què sāng shī le líng。
The orchestra has more discipline now, but at the expense of spirit.
10
实验对象中有一半左右自认为有心灵感应能力。
shí yàn duì xiàng zhōng yǒu yī bàn zuǒ yòu zì rèn wéi yǒu xīn líng gǎn yīng néng lì。
About half the subjects considered themselves to be telepathic.
Cultural Notes for 灵
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 灵 is closely tied to beliefs in spirits and the afterlife, where it represents not just quickness but also the presence of ancestors' spirits. The idea of 灵魂 (soul) is significant in traditional practices and festivals like Qingming.
Word Family of 灵
Compounds1
棂ling2carved or patterned window sills
Words Containing This Character20
灵魂línghúnsoul靈魂
灵língquick靈
心灵xīnlíngbright心靈
灵感línggǎninspiration靈感
精灵spirit精靈
灵活línghuóflexible靈活
幽灵specter幽靈
灵通língtōngclever靈通
失灵shīlíngnot working properly失靈
神灵god神靈
灵敏língmǐnsmart靈敏
机灵jīlingclever機靈
灵活性flexibility靈活性
灵气cleverness靈氣
灵光a halo靈光
圣灵Holy Ghost聖靈
亡灵departed spirit亡靈
都灵Torino都靈
灵性spiritual nature靈性
灵巧língqiǎodeft靈巧
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 棂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 灵
Yes, 灵 (líng) is a commonly used character, especially in higher levels of Mandarin such as HSK 7. It often appears in discussions about spirituality, effectiveness, and alertness, making it relevant in both everyday conversation and literary contexts.
Some synonyms for 灵 (líng) include 迅速 (xùnsù), meaning 'swift' or 'rapid', and 敏捷 (mǐnjié), meaning 'agile' or 'nimble'. These words can convey similar meanings in the context of quickness or alertness.
灵 (líng) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'quick', 'alert', 'efficacious', and 'effective'. It can also refer to the concept of spirit or something that comes true. This character is often used in various contexts, such as describing a person's sharpness or the effectiveness of a method.
You can use 灵 (líng) in sentences to describe a person's quick thinking or alertness. For example, you might say '他反应灵敏' (Tā fǎnyìng língmǐn), meaning 'He reacts quickly'. It can also be used in phrases like '灵魂' (línghún), meaning 'soul' or 'spirit'.
You can say 灵魂不灭 (línghún bù miè), meaning 'the soul is immortal'.
It's more common in literary or formal contexts, especially when discussing spiritual matters.
Some synonyms include 敏捷 (mǐnjié, agile) and 有效 (yǒuxiào, effective).
