(lín) — to face, to overlook (a location or situation); to arrive, to come (of an event or time); just before, on the point of (as a preposition preceding an action)

Definition

Literary/written verb meaning 'to arrive' (events, seasons) or 'just before' an action. Use 来临 or 降临 for an event arriving; 快要 for the casual 'about to'.

to faceto overlook (a location or situation)to arriveto come (of an event or time)just beforeon the point of (as a preposition preceding an action)

Examples

  • Wǒ men xué xiào lín shān, fēng jǐng yōu měi.
    Our school faces the mountain, with beautiful scenery.
  • Chūn tiān lín jìn le, tiān qì kāi shǐ biàn nuǎn.
    Spring is approaching, and the weather is getting warmer.
  • lín Chū fā qián, tā yòu jiǎn chá le yí biàn xíng li.
    Just before departing, he checked his luggage once more.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臨; 临 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 臨, 人 is a person, 臣 is an eye, and 品 is objects, showing a person looking down at objects.

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