Chinese Character: 伶
1. Character Basics
Radical: 亻 (rén, person radical)
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: líng (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Clever; smart; intelligent; bright; talented; quick-witted; actor; actress; performer (especially in traditional Chinese opera)
4. Common Words
- 伶俐 (línglì) - clever; smart; quick-witted
- 伶仃 (língdīng) - lonely; alone; solitary
- 伶人 (língrén) - actor; actress; performer
- 伶工 (línggōng) - actor; performer (in traditional opera)
- 名伶 (mínglíng) - famous actor/actress; celebrated performer
- 优伶 (yōulíng) - actor; actress; performer (old term)
- 伶牙俐齿 (língyá lìchǐ) - eloquent; silver-tongued
- 孤苦伶仃 (gūkǔ língdīng) - lonely and miserable
5. Grammar & Usage
"伶" is primarily used as a character component in compound words rather than alone. It often conveys the meaning of cleverness or relates to performers.
The most common compound is "伶俐" (clever), which is used to describe someone who is smart and quick-witted.
When used in terms related to performers, such as "伶人" and "名伶", it specifically refers to actors or actresses, especially in traditional Chinese opera.
The phrase "伶牙俐齿" is an idiom describing someone who has a quick and eloquent way with words.
6. Cultural Background
The character "伶" has a rich cultural background, particularly in the context of traditional Chinese performing arts. Historically, "伶人" referred to professional entertainers, including singers, dancers, and actors in traditional Chinese opera.
During the Tang Dynasty, "伶官" (língguān) were official performers in the imperial court, indicating the importance of performing arts in Chinese royal culture.
The concept of "伶俐" (cleverness) is highly valued in Chinese culture, and the character "伶" is often used in names to express the wish for a child to be smart and talented.
In Chinese literature, the term "孤苦伶仃" is frequently used to describe characters who are lonely and unfortunate, adding emotional depth to literary works.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 这个小女孩非常伶俐，学东西特别快。
Pinyin: Zhège xiǎo nǚhái fēicháng línglì, xué dōngxi tèbié kuài.
English: This little girl is very clever; she learns things特别 quickly.
8. Memory Tips
The character "伶" is composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and "令" (lìng, order/command) on the right.
You can remember it as "a person who is quick to understand orders" or "someone who is smart enough to follow commands quickly", which connects to the meaning of cleverness.
Visualize a smart person who can quickly comprehend and carry out instructions, and this will help you recall both the character's structure and its meaning.