TongTong
Sign in

麒麟 (qí lín) — qilin (a mythical hooved creature in Chinese mythology, often referred to as the 'Chinese unicorn')

Definition

A mythical hooved creature in Chinese mythology — often called the 'Chinese unicorn,' but it has a dragon-like head, a single horn, and scales, and it traditionally appears as a peaceful omen of good fortune or a wise ruler.

noun
qilin (a mythical hooved creature in Chinese mythology, often referred to as the 'Chinese unicorn')
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 麒麟，。
    Chuán shuō zhōng qí lín chū xiàn de shí hou, tiān xià jiù huì tài píng.
    Legend says that when the qilin appears, the world will be at peace.
  • 麒麟。
    Zhè fú huà shàng huà le yì zhī fēi cháng wēi wǔ de qí lín.
    This painting depicts a very majestic qilin.
  • ，麒麟。
    Zài gù gōng lǐ, nǐ néng kàn dào hěn duō guān yú qí lín de diāo kè.
    In the Forbidden City, you can see many carvings of qilins.

Origin

Single-morpheme word
构词法gòucífǎ
联绵liánmiánBound pair

Two characters that only ever appear together, spelling one ancient two-syllable word.

麒qí
麟lín

The two characters only name the mythical creature together; neither carries meaning on its own.

Sound-only characters

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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
鹿鹿lùdeer
Sound part声符shēngfú
粦
粦lín麟lín
Same sound today

麟 combines 鹿, a deer, with 粦, a part that gives its sound.

Appears in
Mythology & Folklore

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