命

mìng

life

fate; order or command; to assign a name, title etc

command (令) + mouth (口) = life and destiny

Originally, 命 depicted words from the mouth carrying the authority of a decree. This dual nature of spoken authority evolved to encompass both the commands that shape our existence and the life force itself.

令+口→命
令CommandSemantic
口MouthSemantic

他的命很好,从来不生病。

tā de mìng hěn hǎo, cóng lái bù shēng bìng.

His fate is very good, he never gets sick.

医生说这个药能救他的命。

yī shēng shuō zhè ge yào néng jiù tā de mìng.

The doctor said this medicine can save his life.

Words with 命

K他命

k tā mìng

ketamine (C13H16ClNO) (slang)

命根

mìng gēn

lifeblood

命脉

mìng mài

lifeline

维他命

wéi tā mìng

(loanword) vitamin

偿命

cháng mìng

to pay with one's life

拼命

pīn mìng

to do one's utmost; with all one's might; at all costs; (to work or fight) as if one's life depends on it

人命

rén mìng

human life

算命

suàn mìng

fortune-telling

奉命

fèng mìng

to receive orders

卖命

mài mìng

to work tirelessly; to give one's all; to slave away

听命

tīng mìng

to obey an order

安身立命

ān shēn lì mìng

(idiom) to settle down and pursue one's path in life

More characters with 令

冷怜拎岭柃呤囹伶