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臨陣

简临阵 · 繁臨陣

Mandarin · pinyin lín zhèn

just before the battle
to approach the front line

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Characters in this entry

臨: Look up this written character
陣: Look up this written character
临: lín · draw near, approach; descend
阵: zhèn · column, row or file of troops

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–4 · lin2 zhen4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

臨陣 · find source passages ↗ · 临阵 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 3 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

lam4 zan6

Cantonese word readings for 臨陣. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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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

to draw near to a battlefield or fortified position; to advance on a position; to be just about to enter a battle
to personally come to a position and join in battle; to take the field; to enter the fray; to be at the front line

adv

(Northern Min) suddenly

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

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