灵堂 (líng táng) — mourning hall | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

The room or hall set up for a funeral wake, where mourners gather to pay respects to the deceased. Distinct from a general 客厅 or 礼堂: 灵堂 is specifically the mourning space at a funeral.

noun

mourning hall

Measure word · 个

Examples

灵堂。
líng táng Lǐ bǎi mǎn le huā quān hé wǎn lián.
The mourning hall was filled with wreaths and elegiac couplets.
灵堂。
Qīn yǒu men zài líng táng zhōng xiàng shì zhě gào bié.
Relatives and friends bid farewell to the deceased in the mourning hall.
灵堂。
Zhěng gè líng táng lǒng zhào zài sù mù de qì fen zhōng.
The entire mourning hall was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere.

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.

“灵” spirit and “堂” hall make a hall for mourning a spirit.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

尚shàng堂táng

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

堂 uses 土 as a ground/earth part and 尚 for sound.

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