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灵敏 (líng mǐn) — (of senses, reactions) sensitive, acute; (of mind, insight) keen, sharp

Definition

灵敏 describes things that respond fast and accurately — instruments, senses, mind. Sharper than 敏感 (which means easily affected); contrasts with 敏捷, which fits physical movement better than mental or sensory acuity.

adjective
(of senses, reactions) sensitiveacute(of mind, insight) keensharp

Examples

  • 灵敏。
    Zhè zhǒng yí qì de cè liáng fēi cháng líng mǐn.
    This instrument's measurement is very sensitive.
  • 灵敏，。
    Lǎo yīng de yǎn jing hěn líng mǐn, néng kàn jiàn hěn yuǎn de dōng xī.
    The eagle's eyes are very sharp; it can see things very far away.
  • 灵敏，。
    Tā de nǎo zi hěn líng mǐn, zǒng néng lì kè xiǎng chū hǎo bàn fǎ.
    Her mind is very quick; she can always come up with good ideas immediately.

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língquick
敏mǐnsensitive

“灵” as quick and “敏” as sensitive together describe keen, responsive senses or mind.

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
攴攴pūhand; action
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi敏mǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

敏 pairs 每, which gives the sound, with 攴, a hand/action part.

Open 敏 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Senses

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