灵
líng · spirit / soul / nimble💡 How to pronounce
l → like the 'l' in 'love'. íng → like 'ing' in 'sing' but with a rising tone.
📖 The Story
灵 is the spirit — the part of a person that is alive, aware, and connected to the divine. The character shows 'rain' (雨) and 'mouths' (口) — the spirits who speak through the rain. In Chinese mythology, everything has a spirit — mountains, rivers, trees, animals.
🎬 In Culture Today
In Chinese culture, the spirit is everywhere. People burn incense to honor the spirits of their ancestors. In movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the characters speak of the spirit of the sword.
📝 Example Sentences
他很灵活。
He is very nimble.
我的灵感来了。
My inspiration has arrived.