愣 (lèng) — (verb) to stare blankly, to be stupefied; (adjective) blank, distracted, rash; (adverb, colloquial) unexpectedly, rashly
Definition
愣 covers three uses: the verb/adjective sense of staring blankly (close to 发呆) and a colloquial adverb meaning 'unexpectedly / rashly' (close to 轻易 but used to stress surprise, not ease).
verb
to stare blanklyto be stupefied(adverb, colloquial) unexpectedlyrashly
adjective
blankdistractedrash
Examples
- 愣，。Tā lèng zài nà lǐ, yí jù huà yě bù shuō.He stood there blankly, not saying a word.
- 愣。Tā kàn qǐ lái yǒu diǎn lèng.She looks a bit blank.
- 愣。Wǒ men lèng shì méi gǎn shàng fēi jī.We unexpectedly missed the plane.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
愣 is built from 忄, a heart radical, plus 楞, which supplies its sound.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.