伶

líng
noun #13,929

Meanings

  1. 1 actor; actress
  2. 2 clever

Examples

HSK 5
Gǔdài de líng rén dìwèi hěn dī.
In ancient times, actors had very low social status.
HSK 7-9
Tā líng yá lì chǐ, shuōhuà hěn lìhai.
She has a sharp tongue and speaks with great skill.

Tips

usage
Mostly seen in set expressions: 伶俐 (clever/quick-witted), 伶牙俐齿 (sharp-tongued), 伶人 (actor in classical Chinese).

Components

radical
亻 rén
person (radical form of 人)
Two-stroke person radical on the left, the side form of 人. 伶 means an actor or musician - historically the entertainers of the imperial court. The radical confirms membership in the person family with 仆 servant, 优 actor, 俳 comedian - chars naming social roles.
phonetic
令 lìng
order; command
Right side 令 supplies the sound - lìng shifting to líng with a simple tone change. Same phonetic appears in 岭 ridge, 铃 bell, 龄 age, 零 zero, 玲 tinkling. The original 伶 referred to performers under royal command, so 令 carries a faint historical echo.

Stroke Order

伶 líng