臨 meaning and stroke order
To draw near, to approach; to descend
How to write 臨, stroke by stroke
17 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 臨
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to face
- to overlook
- to arrive
- to be (just) about to
- just before
How 臨 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 臣 (minister), shared by 7 characters on this site.
How to remember 臨
On the left is 臣 (chén), an official, and on the right is a figure above 品 (pǐn), a pile of items. Picture an official leaning over to look down at the goods in front of him: he draws near and overlooks them.
臨 is the traditional form of 临 and appears in words about facing or approaching something, like 面臨 (miànlín) and 臨時 (línshí). It is also used politely in shop signs and greetings, as in 歡迎光臨 (huānyíng guānglín), "Welcome." Example: 春天來臨了。(Chūntiān láilín le.) Spring has arrived.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 臨 (lín) with 監 (jiān, to supervise), since both have 臣 on the left. Remember that 臨 has 品 at the bottom right, while 監 sits on 皿 (a dish).
Common words with 臨
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 面臨 | miànlín | to face sth; to be confronted with | HSK 4 |
| 臨時 | línshí | as the time draws near; at the last moment | HSK 4 |
| 光臨 | guānglín | (formal) to honor with one's presence; to attend | HSK 4 |
| 來臨 | láilín | to approach; to come closer | HSK 7-9 |
| 降臨 | jiànglín | to descend; to arrive | HSK 7-9 |
| 臨近 | línjìn | to approach; to draw near; to be close to (in space or time) | HSK 7-9 |
| 臨床 | línchuáng | (medicine) clinical | HSK 7-9 |
| 居高臨下 | jūgāo-línxià | lit. to be in a high location, overlooking the scene below (idiom); fig. to occupy a comma | HSK 7-9 |
| 臨街 | línjiē | facing the street | HSK 7-9 |
| 歡迎光臨 | huānyíngguānglín | Welcome! (used by staff to greet customers when they enter a shop or restaurant) | |
| 即將來臨 | jíjiāngláilín | imminent | |
| 臨終 | línzhōng | approaching death; on one's deathbed | |
| 瀕臨 | bīnlín | on the edge of; (fig.) on the verge of | |
| 蒞臨 | lìlín | to arrive (esp. of notable person); to visit (more formal than 光臨|光临[guang1 lin2]) |
Questions about 臨
How many strokes are in 臨?
臨 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 臨 mean?
臨 (lín) means to draw near, to approach; to descend. A common word with it is 面临 (miànlín), meaning "to face sth; to be confronted with".
How do you pronounce 臨?
臨 is pronounced lín, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 臨?
The radical of 臨 is 臣, which carries the idea of "minister". Dictionaries list 臨 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 臨?
臨 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 临, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What does 臨 mean in 臨走 or 臨睡?
Before a verb, 臨 means "just before" doing something. 臨走 (lín zǒu) means right before leaving, and 臨睡 (lín shuì) means right before going to sleep.
Why do shops say 歡迎光臨?
光臨 (guānglín) is a respectful way to say someone has come. 歡迎光臨 literally means "welcome, you honor us with your presence" and works like "Welcome" in a store or restaurant.