Definition
灵 (líng) is versatile: as 'effective' it is colloquial for remedies/predictions (compare formal 有效 yǒu xiào, practical 管用 guǎn yòng); as 'spirit/soul' it is broad (灵魂 líng hún is core soul, 心灵 xīn líng is inner heart); as 'quick/sharp' it describes alertness (灵敏 líng mǐn is more for physical acuteness).
adjective
quickalertsharpsmartefficaciouseffective(of a prediction) to come true
noun
spiritsouldeparted soul
Easily confused
- 炼liànlook-aliketo refine (skills, writing, etc.)
- 另lìngsound-alike(pronoun) another, other (used before a measure word or numeral-measure word phrase)
- 灭mièlook-aliketo extinguish, to put out (a fire, light, etc.)
- 令lìngsound-alike(verb) to cause, to make; used in the pattern 令+人+adjective/verb
- 灰huīlook-alike(noun) ash; dust; lime (powdery substance)
- 领lǐngsound-alike(noun) neck; collar
- 灾zāilook-alikedisaster, calamity
- 零língsound-alikezero (the number)
- 铃língsound-alikebell
Examples
- 灵，。Tā de bízi hěn líng, shénme wèidào dōu wén de chūlái.His nose is very sharp—he can smell any scent.
- 灵？？Zhège piānfāng dàodǐ líng bù líng? Nǐ shìguo ma?Does this folk remedy actually work? Have you tried it?
- 灵。Gǔdài rén xiāngxìn wànwù dōu yǒu líng.Ancient people believed that everything has a spirit.
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