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灵活 (líng huó) — (of objects, schedules, thinking) flexible; (of movements, body) nimble, agile

Definition

灵活 covers both 'flexible' (schedules, thinking, methods) and 'nimble' (physical movement). For the movement sense, 敏捷 focuses more on quick reactions, while 灵巧 emphasizes skillful dexterity.

adjective
(of objects, schedules, thinking) flexible(of movements, body) nimbleagile

Examples

  • 灵活。
    Gōng sī de gōng zuò shí jiān hěn líng huó.
    The company's work hours are very flexible.
  • 灵活。
    Zhè ge wǔ zhě de dòng zuò fēi cháng líng huó.
    This dancer's movements are very agile.
  • 灵活。
    Tā chǔ lǐ wèn tí de fāng shì hěn líng huó.
    His way of handling problems is very flexible.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

灵língnimble
活huólively

灵 gives nimble or clever, and 活 gives lively or supple, together describing flexible movement or thinking.

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.

Open 灵 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Personality & Traits

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