硬朗 (yìng lang) — robust, healthy | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Used mainly for older people to mean physically robust and healthy, especially at an advanced age. Unlike 健康 (general health) or 健壮 (strong build), 硬朗 emphasizes staying sturdy in old age.

adjective

robusthealthy

Examples

硬朗。
Zhè wèi lǎo rén shēn tǐ hěn yìng lang.
This elderly person is very robust.
，硬朗。
Tā bā shí suì le, dàn yìng lang dé hěn.
He is eighty years old, but still very robust.
硬朗，。
Tā de jīng shén yìng lang, bú xiàng gè bìng rén.
His spirit is robust, not like a sick person.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

硬 means tough and 朗 means clear or brisk, so together they describe a sturdy, healthy state.

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.

石更硬

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

更

更gèng硬yìng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

硬 is built from 石, meaning stone, to show hardness or stiffness, and 更, which gives the sound.

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

月月yuèmoon

Sound part声符shēngfú

良

良liáng朗lǎng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

朗 pairs 月, the moon, with 良 as a sound part.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Fitness & Exercise

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