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守灵 (shǒu líng) — to keep vigil over the deceased (before burial); to attend a wake

Definition

A verb-object phrase: staying with the deceased's body through the night (or several days) before burial, as a sign of respect. Common at traditional Chinese funerals, where family and friends take turns.

verb
to keep vigil over the deceased (before burial)to attend a wake

Examples

  • ，守灵。
    Míng tiān shì zàng lǐ, jīn wǎn wǒ men yào qù shǒu líng.
    The funeral is tomorrow, so tonight we need to keep vigil.
  • ，。
    Tā men shǒu le sān tiān líng, zhí dào xià zàng.
    They kept vigil for three days until the burial.
  • 守灵，。
    Qīn péng hǎo yǒu lún liú shǒu líng, biǎo dá duì shì zhě de jìng yì.
    Relatives and close friends took turns keeping vigil to show respect for the deceased.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

守shǒuwatch over
灵língdeceased / spirit tablet

守 means watch over, and 灵 refers to the deceased or spirit tablet, giving the sense of keeping vigil.

Characters in this word

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

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 靈; 灵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
霝
霝líng靈líng
Same sound today

This note describes the traditional form 靈, not the simplified 灵: 霝 gives the sound, and 玉 (jade) is the meaning part.

Open 灵 →
Appears in
Chinese Culture & Customs

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