灵动 (líng dòng) — to have a sudden inspiration; to be quick-witted

Definition

verb

to have a sudden inspirationto be quick-witted

灵动，。
Tā nǎo zi hěn líng dòng, zǒng néng xiǎng chū hǎo bàn fǎ.
His mind is very quick-witted; he can always come up with good ideas.
，灵动。
Zài guān jiàn shí kè, tā hū rán líng dòng le yí xià.
At the critical moment, he suddenly had a brain wave.
灵动，。
Tā de huí dá fēi cháng líng dòng, ràng rén pèi fú.
His answer was very quick-witted, which impressed everyone.

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.

灵língquick-witted

灵 (quick-witted) and 动 (lively) combine to describe a mind that is both clever and active.

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.

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.

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

重力動

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

重

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.