ling4靈灵
Jyutpingling4
Yalelìhng
Definition
Highly effective, efficacious, or responsive.
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How it's used
Describes something that produces the desired result, often implying a touch of mystery or spiritual power. It is frequently used for traditional medicine, fortune telling, or prayers where the outcome feels almost magical. When referring to mundane or mechanical effectiveness, Cantonese speakers typically prefer using 有用 or 有效 instead.
Examples
This medicine is very effective, I felt much better right after taking it.
Related words
Common phrases
efficacious (of prayers or predictions)
miraculous cure
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 靈活, which means flexible or agile. Using 靈 to describe a person's intelligence or quick-wittedness is possible but usually requires the compound 靈活 or 醒目.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
