HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 页, rank #2534, Medium
领
lǐng
collar
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 页, rank #2534, Medium
领
lǐng
to lead
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 页, rank #2534, Medium
领
lǐng
to receive
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 页, rank #2534, Medium
领
lǐng
classifier for clothes, mats, screens etc
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 页, rank #2534, Medium
领
lǐng
neck, collar; lead, guide
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 页, rank #2534, Medium
lǐng(ling3) T3
1neck
2collar
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March 24, 2026
领(領)lǐng(ling3)
The character 领 (lǐng) has several meanings, including 'neck' or 'collar,' and it can also mean 'to lead' or 'to receive.' It is commonly used in contexts such as clothing (referring to collars) and leadership roles (indicating guidance or direction). The word carries a nuance of authority or responsibility when used in the context of leading others.
Strokes11Radical页Frequency#2534DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of leadership is often tied to Confucian values, emphasizing the importance of a leader's moral integrity and responsibility toward their followers. The character 领 reflects this cultural significance through its usage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a leader wearing a stylish collar. The collar (领) wraps around the neck, symbolizing how a leader guides those beneath them, just as the collar frames the neck. Remember that '领' sounds like 'link,' which connects a leader to their followers.
Meanings of 领
lǐng(ling3)
1neck
2collar
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 领
领Simplified
領Traditional
11Strokes
页Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2534Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 领
Podcast: 领
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AI Study Notes for 领
Quick Contrast
领 (lǐng) vs 带 (dài) — use 领 when emphasizing authority or leadership, while 带 focuses more on the act of bringing or carrying.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a leader wearing a stylish collar. The collar (领) wraps around the neck, symbolizing how a leader guides those beneath them, just as the collar frames the neck. Remember that '领' sounds like 'link,' which connects a leader to their followers.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 领 can be confused with similar-sounding characters. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but when referring to leadership, it is more common in formal speech. Common collocations include 领导 (lǐngdǎo, to lead) and 领取 (lǐngqǔ, to receive).
HSK Study Tips
Though 领 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for learners as it connects to other words related to leadership and authority. Students should focus on recognizing its various meanings and practice using it in different contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of leadership is often tied to Confucian values, emphasizing the importance of a leader's moral integrity and responsibility toward their followers. The character 领 reflects this cultural significance through its usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 领 (lǐng) with other similar sounding characters, such as 零 (líng) which means 'zero'. For instance, saying '我领零' (Wǒ lǐng líng) instead of '我领领带' (Wǒ lǐng lǐngdài, I receive a tie) can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 领
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Grammar Patterns of 领
领 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Lorenzo was a natural leader who made friends easily.
6
他天生擅长交际：他的祖先曾是封建领主。
tā tiān shēng shàn cháng jiāo jì： ： tā de zǔ xiān zēng shì fēng jiàn lǐng。
Diplomacy was in his blood: his ancestors had been feudal lords.
7
他领受了坚振礼，成为英国国教会的一员。
tā lǐng shòu le jiān zhèn lǐ， ， chéng wéi yīng guó guó jiào huì de yī。
He was confirmed as a member of the Church of England.
8
旅客通过入境检查后领取了自己的行李。
lǚ kè tōng guò rù jìng jiǎn chá hòu lǐng qǔ le zì jǐ de háng lǐ。
The passengers went through immigration control and collected their baggage.
9
士兵们征用首都的车辆，并且占领了电视台。
shì bīng mén zhēng yòng shǒu dū de chē liàng， ， bìng qiě zhān lǐng le diàn shì。
The soldiers commandeered vehicles in the capital and occupied the television station.
10
杀红了眼的暴徒们意欲占领这座城市。
shā hóng le yǎn de bào tú mén yì yù zhān lǐng zhè zuò chéng shì。
The mobs became driven by a crazed blood-lust to take the city.
Cultural Notes for 领
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of leadership is often tied to Confucian values, emphasizing the importance of a leader's moral integrity and responsibility toward their followers. The character 领 reflects this cultural significance through its usage.
Word Family of 领
Words Containing This Character20
领导lǐngdǎolead領導
领域lǐngyùdomain領域
领lǐngneck領
领先lǐngxiānto lead領先
领袖lǐngxiùleader領袖
带领dàilǐngto guide帶領
领带lǐngdàinecktie領帶
领导人leader領導人
占领zhànlǐngto hold佔領
领养lǐngyǎngadoption領養
领取lǐngqǔto receive領取
首领head首領
领导者leader領導者
领土lǐngtǔterritory領土
率领shuàilǐngto lead率領
领地territory領地
领主feudal lord領主
本领běnlǐngskill本領
白领báilǐngwhite-collar白領
领队lǐngduìto lead a group領隊
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 领导 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 领
Yes, 领 can be used as a verb meaning 'to lead' or 'to receive'. For instance, you can say '他领我去商店' (Tā lǐng wǒ qù shāngdiàn), which means 'He leads me to the store.'
领 (lǐng) refers to 'neck' or 'collar', while 领带 (lǐngdài) specifically means 'tie'. The former can be used in various contexts related to clothing, while the latter is a specific accessory worn around the neck.
To use 领 in a sentence, you can describe clothing or give commands. For example, '我喜欢这个领子' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhège lǐngzi) means 'I like this collar.' To say 'I will lead the team,' you can say '我会领队' (Wǒ huì lǐng duì).
领 (lǐng) has several meanings in Chinese. It can refer to 'neck' or 'collar' in a clothing context, and it also means 'to lead' or 'to receive'. In addition, it serves as a classifier for items like clothes, mats, and screens.
领 (lǐng) means 'to lead' or 'collar,' while 领导 (lǐngdǎo) specifically refers to leadership or the act of leading.
Yes, while 领 is often used in formal contexts, it can also appear in casual conversations about leadership.
Yes, it is commonly used when discussing clothing, especially collars, as well as when talking about leadership roles.
