(lēng) — used in the place name 穆棱 (Mùlíng)

Definition

On its own, 棱 is not a common word — learners will meet it almost only in the place name 穆棱, a county in Heilongjiang.

bound form
used in the place name 穆棱 (Mùlíng)

Examples

  • Mù lēng shì hēi lóng jiāng shěng de yí gè xiàn.
    Muling is a county in Heilongjiang Province.
  • Wǒ qù nián qù guò mù lēng lǚ yóu.
    I traveled to Muling last year.
  • Mù lēng de dōng tiān fēi cháng lěng.
    The winters in Muling are very cold.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
língléng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

棱 pairs 木, a tree/wood shape, with 夌, which gives the sound.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.