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陵夷

Mandarin · pinyin líng yí

to deteriorate
to decline
to slump
also written 凌夷

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陵: líng · hill, mound; mausoleum
夷: yí · ancient barbarian tribes

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Mandarin tones

2–2 · ling2 yi2

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

verb

(literary) to change from prosperity to failure; to deteriorate; to decline; to slump

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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