麟
Chinese unicorn, genius, giraffe, bright, shining
Readings
On'yomi
- リン
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
麟 centers on a mythical auspicious creature, often described as a Chinese unicorn or giraffe-like beast, symbolizing brilliance, genius, and shining virtue.
Most common words using 麟
- 麒麟きりんN1
giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
- マサイ麒麟マサイきりん
masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii); maasai giraffe; Kilimanjaro giraffe
- 木麒麟もっきりん
Barbados shrub (Pereskia aculeata); Barbados gooseberry; leaf cactus; lemonvine
- 深山秋の麒麟草みやまあきのきりんそう
European goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea); woundwort
- 獲麟かくりん
the end of things (esp. used for one's last writings)
- 秋の麒麟草あきのきりんそう
goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea subsp. asiatica)
- 麒麟も老いぬれば駑馬に劣るきりんもおいぬればどばにおとる
even an outstanding person becomes inferior when getting old
- 麒麟児きりんじ
child prodigy; wonder child
- 麒麟座きりんざ
Camelopardalis (constellation); the Giraffe
- 麒麟羚羊きりんれいよう
gerenuk (Litocranius walleri); Waller's gazelle
- 麒麟草きりんそう
Kamchatka stonecrop (Sedum kamtschaticum)
- 麒麟菜きりんさい
Eucheuma muricatum (species of red algae)
- 麒麟血きりんけつ
dragon's blood palm (Daemonorops draco); bright red resin used in medicine, dyes, etc.
Study
Etymology
麟 combines 鹿 (deer) with 粦, which likely contributes the sound and possibly the idea of scales or shining. The character originally referred to a mythical deer-like creature with scales, later associated with the Chinese unicorn and giraffe.
Meaning mnemonic
A deer (鹿) with shining scales (粦) is the mythical Chinese unicorn, a symbol of genius and brilliance.
Reading mnemonic
For リン, imagine a ring of light shining around the unicorn's horn: ring -> リン, and the bright ring matches its shining nature.