Learn a Chinese Character - 命

1. Character Basics

Radical: \u7f16 (command, simplified as \u7f16 radical, representing order or instruction)

Stroke Count: 8 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: mìng (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Life; fate; destiny; order; command; mandate; to order; to appoint; to assign; to give instructions; to decree; to ordain; to name; to call; to designate

4. Common Words

• \u547d\u91dd (mìng lìng) - order; command; instruction
• \u751f\u547d (shēng mìng) - life; existence
• \u547d\u8fd0 (mìng dòng) - action driven by fate; fatalism
• \u767e\u547d (bǎi mìng) - common people; ordinary folks
• \u547d\u884c (mìng xíng) - to carry out an order; to execute a command
• \u547d\u540d (mìng míng) - to name; to designate; to give a name
• \u547d\u5b9a (mìng dìng) - to ordain; to decree; to decide
• \u82b1\u547d (huā mìng) - one's allotted lifespan; life span

5. Grammar & Usage

The character \u547d\u0022 (mìng) is primarily used as a noun meaning "life, fate, destiny" or as a verb meaning "to order, to command". It can also be used in compound words and idiomatic expressions. Here are some common grammatical patterns:

• As a noun: \u547d\u0022 (mìng) can be used as a subject or object to refer to one's life or destiny.
• As a verb: \u547d\u0022 (mìng) can be used to mean "to order" or "to command" in formal contexts.
• Compound verbs: \u547d\u884c\u0022 (mìng xíng) means "to carry out an order" or "to execute a command"
• Compound nouns: \u751f\u547d\u0022 (shēng mìng) means "life" or "existence"
• Idiomatic expressions: \u547d\u91cc\u5982\u6b64\u0022 (mìng lǐ rú cǐ) means "such is fate" or "that's destiny"

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the concept of \u547d\u0022 (mìng) is deeply rooted in traditional philosophy and beliefs. It often carries the meaning of "destiny" or "fate" that is believed to be predetermined. This concept can be traced back to ancient Chinese thought, including Confucianism and Taoism.

Throughout Chinese history, the word \u547d\u0022 (mìng) has also been used in the context of imperial authority, such as \u547d\u5b98\u0022 (mìng guān) meaning "to appoint officials" or \u5929\u547d\u0022 (tiān mìng) meaning "Mandate of Heaven," which was the traditional Chinese political doctrine justifying the rule of the King or Emperor of China.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character \u547d\u0022 (mìng) has 8 strokes. It is composed of \u53e3\u0022 (kǒu, mouth) at the bottom and \u547d\u0022's upper part, which is related to the concept of command or order.

• Remember that the bottom part is \u53e3\u0022 (kǒu, mouth), representing speaking or giving instructions
• The upper part is a special component that helps distinguish this character from others
• Associate the character with its meaning of "command" or "destiny"
• Practice writing the character following the stroke order to improve memory retention
• Use the character in common words like \u751f\u547d\u0022 (shēng mìng, life) to reinforce your memory