林立 (lín lì) — (of tall, thin objects) to stand in great numbers like a forest

Definition

Used for tall, thin things (skyscrapers, chimneys, flags) standing in dense clusters — like a forest. It is written/literary register, not everyday speech.

verb
(of tall, thin objects) to stand in great numbers like a forest

Examples

  • 林立，。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì gāo lóu lín lì, fēi cháng fán huá.
    This city has countless skyscrapers standing like a forest — it's very bustling.
  • 林立，。
    Nà ge gōng yè qū yān cōng lín lì, jī qì shēng bù jué yú ěr.
    In that industrial zone, factory chimneys stand in dense clusters, and the sound of machinery never stops.
  • ，林立，。
    Guó qìng jié shí, guǎng chǎng shàng cǎi qí lín lì, shí fēn zhuàng guān.
    During National Day, the square is filled with colorful flags standing in great numbers — it's a magnificent sight.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

林línforest
立lìstand

The image is 林 that 立, as if a forest stands, so tall thin objects appear densely in numbers.

Characters in this word

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

林 is made of two 木 (tree) placed side by side, showing many trees together, hence a forest.

Open 林 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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