密令 (mì lìng) — to give a secret order; to issue confidential instructions

Definition

A verb meaning to issue a secret or confidential order, typically from a superior or authority (e.g., government, headquarters). Note the counterpart noun 密令 ('a secret order itself') shares the same form.

verb
to give a secret orderto issue confidential instructions

Examples

  • 密令。
    Shàng jí mì lìng tā lì kè chū fā zhí xíng rèn wu.
    The higher-ups secretly ordered him to set off immediately to carry out the mission.
  • 密令，。
    Zhèng fǔ mì lìng fēng suǒ xiāo xi, fáng zhǐ kǒng huāng.
    The government gave secret orders to block information to prevent panic.
  • 密令。
    Zǒng bù mì lìng gè fēn duì zài wǔ yè qián wán chéng bù shǔ.
    Headquarters secretly ordered each squad to complete the deployment before midnight.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

密mìsecret
令lìngcommand

密 gives 'secret' and 令 gives 'command', so to command secretly.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
宓
宓mì密mì
Same sound today

密 pairs 山 (mountain) with 宓 (mì), which gives the pronunciation, to picture something hidden in the mountains, hence secret.

Open 密 →

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

  • 亼亼jí
  • 卩卩jié

In 令, the upper 亼 is an open mouth and the lower 卩 is a kneeling person, together showing someone giving orders.

Open 令 →

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