sinh linh

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 生靈, composed of 生 (“living”) and 靈 (“soul”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [sïŋ˧˧ lïŋ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʂɨn˧˧ lɨn˧˧] ~ [sɨn˧˧ lɨn˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʂɨn˧˧ lɨn˧˧] ~ [sɨn˧˧ lɨn˧˧]

Noun

sinh linh

1. (literary or religion) a mortal soul (person, especially as one among many), especially one that's under the protection of a higher being

   những sinh linh bé bỏng ― fragile, delicate souls