燐 (lín) - Phosphorus & will-o'-the-wisp

燐Tone 2

lín ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

林伦

燐 · lín

Phosphorus;

will-o'-the-wisp;

phosphorescent light;

ghost fire.

Phosphoruswill-o'-the-wispphosphorescent light

Usage highlights

PhosphorusPhosphorescent lightWillGhost firePhosphorPhosphoric acid

Synonyms

  • 磷— phosphorus (modern chemical term)
  • 鬼火— ghost fire (folk term for will-o'-the-wisp)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Phosphorus is a chemical element (磷).
  • We saw phosphorescent lights in the swamp (燐火).
  • The ancient text describes ghostly fires (鬼燐).
  • Some minerals exhibit phosphorescence (燐光).

Collocations

  • Phosphorus(磷)
  • Phosphorescent light(燐光)
  • Will-o'-the-wisp(燐火)
  • Ghost fire(鬼燐)
  • Phosphor(燐光体)
  • Phosphoric acid(燐酸)

Idioms

  • Phosphorescent fire and ghostly flame(燐火鬼焰)
  • Phosphor lights in old battlefields(古战场燐火)
  • Phosphorescent glow of decay(腐朽生燐)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese folklore, 燐火 (phosphorescent light) was often associated with ghost fires or will-o'-the-wisps, believed to be spirits of the dead.
  • The character appears in classical literature describing eerie lights in marshes and ancient battlefields.
  • Scientifically, it refers to phosphorus and phosphorescent phenomena.

FAQ