玲 meaning and stroke order
The tinkling of jewelry
How to write 玲, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 玲
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (onom.) ting-a-ling (in compounds such as 玎玲 or 玲瓏|玲珑)
- tinkling of gem-pendants
How 玲 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Jade.
王 gives the meaning and 令 hints at the sound.
Radical: 王 (king), shared by 104 characters on this site.
How to remember 玲
The left side 王 is the jade radical, so think of jade pendants. The right side 令 (lìng) gives the sound, and you can picture jade pieces that ring out a command, líng líng, as they knock together.
玲 rarely stands alone. It appears in compounds like 玲珑 (línglóng), which describes something small, exquisite, and finely made, or a person who is clever and nimble. It is also very common in girls' given names. Example: 这个小盒子很玲珑。(Zhège xiǎo hézi hěn línglóng.) This little box is very exquisite.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 玲 with 铃 (líng, bell), which has the metal radical 钅 instead of jade 王. Use 铃 for real bells, as in 门铃 (ménlíng, doorbell), and 玲 for jade sounds, delicate things, and names.
Common words with 玲
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 玲玲 | línglíng | (onom.) tinkling (e.g. of jewels) |
玲 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 玲
How many strokes are in 玲?
玲 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 玲 mean?
玲 (líng) means the tinkling of jewelry. A common word with it is 玲玲 (línglíng), meaning "(onom.) tinkling (e.g. of jewels)".
How do you pronounce 玲?
玲 is pronounced líng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 玲?
The radical of 玲 is 王, which carries the idea of "king". Dictionaries list 玲 under this radical.
What does 玲珑 mean when describing a person?
It means clever, quick-witted, and nimble. The set phrase 八面玲珑 (bāmiàn línglóng) describes someone smooth and good at pleasing everyone, which can sound slightly negative.
Why is 玲 so common in Chinese names?
It suggests the clear, pleasant sound of jade and the idea of something delicate and refined. Parents choose it for daughters, often doubled as 玲玲 (Línglíng) for a nickname.