伶 (líng) is a Chinese character meaning “a performer or actor (especially in traditional opera)”. It is written from 亻 (person (the form 人 takes on the left)) and 令 (to order; a command), side by side, and takes 7 strokes.
Build the character for “performer; quick-witted”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
亻 + 令
Left–right structure
Structure from: hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（2+5=7，现代字形拆分，非字源）+ 读音比对：令 lìng → 伶 líng
Memory aid
A person (亻) whose whole job is to take an order (令) and turn it into a show — the quick-witted performer. Both parts really are in this character.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
7 strokes
In real words
- 伶俐líng lìclever; quick-witted; nimble伶 = líng
- 名伶míng línga famous opera performer伶 = líng
Go deeper
All readings
performer; quick-witted
a performer or actor (especially in traditional opera); also the first half of 伶俐, meaning clever and quick-witted
旧时称以演戏、奏乐为业的人；也用于「伶俐」，表示聪明、机灵。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 伶俐líng lìclever; quick-witted; nimble伶 = líng
- 名伶míng línga famous opera performer伶 = líng
Sound component
令 family tone diff
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 伶 mean?
伶 (líng) means a performer or actor (especially in traditional opera); also the first half of 伶俐, meaning clever and quick-witted.
How do you pronounce 伶?
It is pronounced líng.
What parts is 伶 made of?
亻 (person (the form 人 takes on the left)) and 令 (to order; a command), side by side. The recorded source is: hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（2+5=7，现代字形拆分，非字源）+ 读音比对：令 lìng → 伶 líng. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 伶 have?
7. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 伶?
人. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 伶?
Common ones are 伶俐 and 名伶. The reading of 伶 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.