Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Efficacious / Miraculous: Describes something, often a spirit, deity, or sacred object, believed to possess supernatural power and effectiveness; able to produce miraculous results.
   • Sacred / Divine: Having a holy or spiritual nature, often inspiring awe or reverence.

2. Numeral Particle:

   • "And" (in numbers): A word used in spoken Vietnamese numerals to connect hundreds (or thousands) with a following single-digit number, indicating a zero in the tens place (e.g., 205, 1007). It is not translated directly but signifies the number's structure.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Thần thánh ở ngôi đền này rất linh. (The deities at this temple are very efficacious.)
  • Mọi người tin rằng bùa đó rất linh. (People believe that talisman is very powerful.)

• Numeral Particle:

  • Hai trăm linh năm. (Two hundred and five. / 205)
  • Một nghìn không trăm linh bảy. (One thousand and seven. / 1,007)

Advanced Usage

• "linh ứng": (n) divine response; the answering of prayers by a sacred power.

  • Sự linh ứng của vị thần khiến mọi người kinh ngạc. (The deity's divine response amazed everyone.)

• "linh thiêng": (adj) sacred, holy (a more common and emphatic compound for the adjective meaning).

  • Vùng đất linh thiêng. (A sacred land.)

Variants and Related Words

• Linh hồn (n): soul, spirit (of a person).

  • Linh hồn bất tử. (The immortal soul.)

• Linh vật (n): sacred animal; mascot.

  • Rồng là một linh vật trong văn hóa Việt. (The dragon is a sacred creature in Vietnamese culture.)

• Linh tinh (adj): miscellaneous, assorted (a separate, common word with a different meaning).

  • Đồ đạc linh tinh. (Miscellaneous items.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Powerful, miraculous, supernatural, sacred.
• Numeral Particle: (and) – used to indicate the tens place is zero.

Related Idioms

• Thiêng liêng: (adj) sacred, hallowed. Often used alongside or interchangeably with "linh" in religious contexts.

  • Giây phút thiêng liêng. (A sacred moment.)

• Linh bất linh tại người: A proverb meaning "The efficacy (of a sacred object) depends on the believer's faith." It highlights that spiritual power is contingent on human belief.

  • Đừng quên câu 'linh bất linh tại người'. (Don't forget the saying 'its power depends on the person'.)

adj

1. efficacious