Meaning
机灵 describes someone who is mentally agile, quick to understand situations, and able to react cleverly. It emphasizes practical intelligence and street smarts rather than academic knowledge. The word carries a positive connotation and often describes children, young people, or anyone who shows nimble thinking.
Usage
机灵 is commonly used in everyday conversation to praise someone's quick thinking or cleverness in handling situations. It's particularly popular when describing children who are precocious or sharp. The word can be used as a predicate (他很机灵) or as an attributive modifier (机灵的孩子). It's neutral to positive in tone and more colloquial than formal synonyms like 聪明.
Examples
- 01这孩子真机灵，一学就会。, .This child is really clever; they learn things right away.
- 02她脑子很机灵，总能想出好办法。, .She has a sharp mind and can always come up with good solutions.
Characters
Common collocations
- 机灵鬼clever little devil (affectionate)
- 很机灵very clever
- 小机灵little smarty
Antonyms
Origin
机 originally meant 'crossbow trigger' and evolved to mean 'mechanism' or 'opportunity,' suggesting quickness. 灵 refers to spiritual agility or effectiveness. Together they create the sense of mental nimbleness and quick responsiveness.