灵敏

• Pinyin: líng mǐn
• Hanzi breakdown: 灵 = spirit, nimble; 敏 = 每 + 攴 (alert, quick)

Meaning

Sensitive; responsive; keen. Describes a high degree of sensitivity to stimuli or rapid, accurate responsiveness to change.

Applied to instruments, senses, or organisms that detect or respond to stimuli quickly and precisely. Also used metaphorically for quick-minded individuals or sensitive market reactions.

Examples

1. 这款传感器极为灵敏，能够探测到极其微小的温度变化。 This sensor is extremely sensitive and can detect even the slightest changes in temperature.
2. 狗的嗅觉十分灵敏，可以从复杂气味中识别出极低浓度的特定化学物质。 A dog’s sense of smell is very keen; it can identify a specific chemical at extremely low concentrations amid complex odors.
3. 市场对政策调整的反应非常灵敏，公告发布后股价立即出现明显波动。 The market is highly responsive to policy changes; as soon as the announcement was released, the stock price showed a noticeable swing.

Usage Guide

Context: science, technology, nature, finance

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 这台仪器的灵敏度极高，精度远超同类产品。(The sensitivity of this instrument is extremely high, far surpassing comparable products.)
• 他的市场嗅觉非常灵敏，总能提前发现机会。(His sense of the market is extremely keen — he always spots opportunities ahead of others.)

Don't Say

• 用'灵敏'形容情绪反应过度 — 那种情况用'敏感'更贴切 (Don't use 灵敏 for emotional over-sensitivity — use 敏感 instead)

Origin & History

灵 (spirit, nimble) + 敏 (quick, sharp) — quick and sharp in perception or response.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal