(lǐng) — (noun) neck; collar; (verb) to lead; to guide; (verb) to receive; to collect

Definition

领 (lǐng) is the base verb 'to lead' and 'to receive', and also a noun for the collar/neck area of a garment. Compared to 领取, it's more general; 领取 is specifically for receiving documents or money in formal settings.

noun
neckcollar
verb
to leadto guideto receiveto collect
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Zhè jiàn yī fu de lǐng tài gāo le.
    The collar of this shirt is too high.
  • Tā lǐng wǒ men qù cān guān bó wù guǎn.
    He led us to visit the museum.
  • Tā lǐng le jiǎng jīn.
    He received the bonus.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 領; 领 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
lìnglǐng
Same sound today

The traditional form 領 has 令 as a sound part and 頁 as a meaning part; the simplified 领 is a later shorthand.

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