領 meaning and stroke order
Neck, collar; lead, guide
How to write 領, stroke by stroke
14 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 領
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- neck
- collar
- to lead
- to receive
- classifier for clothes, mats, screens etc
How 領 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Head.
頁 gives the meaning and 令 hints at the sound.
Radical: 頁 (page), shared by 45 characters on this site.
How to remember 領
領 combines 令 (lìng, to command) as the sound hint with 頁 (yè), a component meaning head. Picture the head and neck of the person who gives commands: the neck holds up the head, and the one with the head in front leads.
In modern Chinese 領 (simplified 领) rarely stands alone and mostly appears in compounds about leading, like 领导 (lǐngdǎo) and 带领 (dàilǐng), or about collars, like 领带 (lǐngdài). It also means to receive or collect something that is handed out. Example: 我去领工资。(Wǒ qù lǐng gōngzī.) I am going to collect my pay.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 領 (lǐng) with 嶺 (lǐng, mountain ridge), which has the same sound but adds 山 on top, and with 令 (lìng), which has a fourth tone. Remember that 領 is third tone.
Common words with 領
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 領導 | lǐngdǎo | lead; leading | HSK 3 |
| 帶領 | dàilǐng | to guide; to lead | HSK 3 |
| 領先 | lǐngxiān | to lead; to be in front | HSK 3 |
| 本領 | běnlǐng | skill; ability | HSK 3 |
| 佔領 | zhànlǐng | to capture; to seize; to occupy by force | HSK 5 |
| 領帶 | lǐngdài | necktie | HSK 5 |
| 率領 | shuàilǐng | to lead; to command | HSK 5 |
| 領袖 | lǐngxiù | leader | HSK 6 |
| 白領 | báilǐng | white-collar; white-collar worker | HSK 6 |
| 藍領 | lánlǐng | blue-collar; blue-collar worker | HSK 6 |
| 領取 | lǐngqǔ | to receive; to draw; to get | HSK 6 |
| 領域 | lǐngyù | domain; sphere; field; territory; area | HSK 7-9 |
| 領養 | lǐngyǎng | to adopt (a child, pet etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 領土 | lǐngtǔ | territory | HSK 7-9 |
Characters that contain 領
Learning 領 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 領
How many strokes are in 領?
領 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 領 mean?
領 (lǐng) means neck, collar; lead, guide. A common word with it is 领导 (lǐngdǎo), meaning "lead; leading".
How do you pronounce 領?
領 is pronounced lǐng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 領?
The radical of 領 is 頁, which carries the idea of "page". Dictionaries list 領 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 領?
領 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 领, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 领 and 带 when both mean to lead?
带 (dài) focuses on taking someone along with you, while 领 (lǐng) stresses guiding from the front or being in charge. They often combine as 带领 (dàilǐng), to lead a group.
How is 领 used to mean receive?
领 can mean to go and collect something that is officially given out, such as 领工资 (lǐng gōngzī, collect wages) or 领奖 (lǐng jiǎng, receive a prize). It is not used for simply receiving a letter or gift, where 收 (shōu) is more natural.