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March 24, 2026
灵活(靈活)línghuó(ling2huo2)
灵活 (línghuó) refers to the quality of being flexible, nimble, or agile. It can describe both physical agility, such as in sports or dance, and mental flexibility, such as adapting to new situations or ideas. This word is commonly used to describe people, strategies, or plans that can easily adjust to change.
Frequency#8488DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 灵活 is highly valued, especially in the context of business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing society where flexibility can lead to better opportunities.
Memory Tip
Think of 灵 (líng) as 'spirit' or 'soul', and 活 (huó) as 'alive'. Picture a lively spirit that dances gracefully and adapts to every beat of life, representing flexibility and agility in both movement and thought.
Meanings of 灵活
línghuó(ling2huo2)
1flexible
2nimble
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 灵活
灵活Simplified
靈活Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#8488Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 灵活
Podcast: 灵活
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AI Study Notes for 灵活
Quick Contrast
灵活 (línghuó) vs 机动 (jīdòng) — use 灵活 for personal or mental flexibility, while 机动 refers more to mobile or maneuverable capabilities, often in a mechanical or operational context.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 灵 (líng) as 'spirit' or 'soul', and 活 (huó) as 'alive'. Picture a lively spirit that dances gracefully and adapts to every beat of life, representing flexibility and agility in both movement and thought.
Usage Notes
灵活 is generally used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in everyday conversations. A common mistake is to confuse it with rigid or inflexible terms; remember that 灵活 conveys adaptability. It often collocates with strategies (策略), thinking (思维), and movement (动作).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 灵活 connects with other terms expressing adaptability or change, such as 适应 (shìyìng) which means 'to adapt'. Students should focus on using it in various contexts to illustrate both physical and mental flexibility.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 灵活 is highly valued, especially in the context of business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing society where flexibility can lead to better opportunities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 灵活 with 固定 (gùdìng), which means 'fixed' or 'rigid'. A common error is saying '他的思维很固定' instead of '他的思维很灵活' to mean 'His thinking is very flexible.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 灵活
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Grammar Patterns of 灵活
灵活 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
看了他那股____劲儿,我心里倒是暗暗有几分怕他.
I was secretly afraid of him when I saw him so dexterous.
Example Sentences for 灵活 (10)
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1
看了他那股灵活劲儿,我心里倒是暗暗有几分怕他.
kàn le tā nà gǔ líng huó jìn ér, , wǒ xīn lǐ dǎo shì àn àn yǒu jī fēn pà.
I was secretly afraid of him when I saw him so dexterous.
2
猫的灵活优美
māo de líng huó yōu měi
the sinuous grace of a cat
3
我被灵活复佑的姓别与年龄索引迷惑住了.
wǒ bèi líng huó fù yòu de xìng bié yǔ nián líng suǒ yǐn mí huò zhù le.
I'm perplexed by the flexible complex index of sex and age.
4
得有一点灵活性才行。
dé yǒu yī diǎn líng huó xìng cái háng。
There has got to be a degree of flexibility.
5
她诉说自己的关节不灵活, 于是被留院作进一步检查.
tā sù shuō zì jǐ de guān jié bù líng huó, , yú shì bèi liú yuàn zuò jìn yī bù jiǎn.
She complained of stiffness in her joints. Accordingly she was admitted to hospital for further tests.
When inflexible rules are imposed on flexible humans, both sides lose.
10
他敏捷,灵活,输了不在乎.
tā mǐn jié, , líng, huó , shū le bù.
He was quick and agile and he didn't mind losing.
Cultural Notes for 灵活
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being 灵活 is highly valued, especially in the context of business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing society where flexibility can lead to better opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions about 灵活
Yes, you can describe a person as 灵活 if they are adaptable or quick-thinking.
No, 灵活 can describe both physical agility and mental adaptability.
For example, you can say '他的思维很灵活' which means 'His thinking is very flexible.'
