命令 (mìng lìng) — (verb) to order, to command; (noun) an order, a command

Definition

命令 is a fairly formal verb/noun for 'order, command,' used especially for military or official authority. 指令 is more technical (instructions, directives); 令 appears mainly in set phrases like 令人… or as a written 'decree.'

verb
to orderto command
noun
an ordera command
Measure word · 道, 个

Examples

  • 命令。
    Tā mìng lìng wǒ lì jí tíng zhǐ gōng zuò.
    He ordered me to stop working immediately.
  • 命令。
    Lǎo bǎn xià le yí dào mìng lìng.
    The boss issued an order.
  • 命令。
    Nǐ bì xū fú cóng shàng jí de mìng lìng.
    You must obey the orders of your superior.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

命mìngcommand
令lìngorder

命 and 令 both mean order, so together they denote a command or the act of ordering.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng命mìng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Open 命 →

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

  • 亼亼jí
  • 卩卩jié

In 令, the upper 亼 is an open mouth and the lower 卩 is a kneeling person, together showing someone giving orders.

Open 令 →
Appears in
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