领 meaning and stroke order
Neck; collar; to lead
How to write 领, stroke by stroke
11 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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- 11
Meaning of 领
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- neck
- collar
- to lead
- to receive
- classifier for clothes, mats, screens etc
How 领 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Head.
页 gives the meaning and 令 hints at the sound.
Radical: 页 (page), shared by 39 characters on this site.
How to remember 领
领 is 令 (lìng, order) beside 页, which hints at the head. The one who gives orders is the head of the group, so 领 means to lead, and the neck and collar sit right below the head.
领 most often means to lead, as in 领导 (lǐngdǎo) and 带领 (dàilǐng), and it also means to receive or collect something, like a package or a salary. It keeps its body meaning in words like 领带 (lǐngdài, necktie) and 衣领 (yīlǐng, collar). Example: 我去邮局领包裹。(Wǒ qù yóujú lǐng bāoguǒ.) I am going to the post office to pick up a package.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 领 (lǐng) with 岭 (lǐng, mountain ridge) and 铃 (líng, bell), since all three use 令 for sound. Remember that 领 has 页 for the head, and that it takes the third tone, not the second tone of 铃.
Common words with 领
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 领导 | lǐngdǎo | lead; leading | HSK 3 |
| 带领 | dàilǐng | to guide; to lead | HSK 3 |
| 领先 | lǐngxiān | to lead; to be in front | HSK 3 |
| 本领 | běnlǐng | skill; ability | HSK 3 |
| 占领 | zhànlǐng | to capture; to seize; to occupy by force | HSK 5 |
| 领带 | lǐngdài | necktie | HSK 5 |
| 率领 | shuàilǐng | to lead; to command | HSK 5 |
| 领袖 | lǐngxiù | leader | HSK 6 |
| 白领 | báilǐng | white-collar; white-collar worker | HSK 6 |
| 蓝领 | lánlǐng | blue-collar; blue-collar worker | HSK 6 |
| 领取 | lǐngqǔ | to receive; to draw; to get | HSK 6 |
| 领域 | lǐngyù | domain; sphere; field; territory; area | HSK 7-9 |
| 领养 | lǐngyǎng | to adopt (a child, pet etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 领土 | lǐngtǔ | territory | HSK 7-9 |
领 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 领
How many strokes are in 领?
领 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 领 mean?
领 (lǐng) means neck; collar; to lead. A common word with it is 领导 (lǐngdǎo), meaning "lead; leading".
How do you pronounce 领?
领 is pronounced lǐng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 领?
The radical of 领 is 页, which carries the idea of "page". Dictionaries list 领 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 领?
The traditional form of 领 is 領. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 领 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 领 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 领 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 领导 and 带领?
领导 (lǐngdǎo) can be a noun meaning a boss or leader, or a verb for leading in a formal, organizational way. 带领 (dàilǐng) is only a verb and suggests physically guiding or heading a group, like a teacher leading students on a trip.
How does 领 mean to receive?
In everyday speech 领 means to go and collect something that is given out, such as 领工资 (lǐng gōngzī, get paid) or 领奖 (lǐngjiǎng, accept a prize). It usually implies you pick it up from an office or organization.