adjective HSK 5
Traditional 靈活
flexible · agile · nimble · adaptable
Meaning
灵活 describes something or someone that is flexible, adaptable, or able to respond quickly to changing circumstances. It can refer to physical agility (like nimble movements), mental flexibility (like creative thinking), or organizational adaptability (like flexible policies).
Usage
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe people's minds, bodies, work arrangements, strategies, or policies. Often appears in business and educational settings when discussing adaptive approaches. Can be used with 很, 非常, or 比较 as intensifiers.
Examples
- 01这家公司的工作时间很灵活，员工可以自己安排。, .This company has very flexible working hours; employees can arrange their own schedules.
- 02她头脑灵活，总能想出好办法解决问题。, .She's mentally agile and can always come up with good solutions to problems.
Characters
Common collocations
- 灵活运用to apply flexibly
- 灵活性flexibility
- 工作时间灵活flexible working hours
- 头脑灵活quick-minded, mentally agile
Antonyms
Origin
The combination of 灵 (spirit/quick) and 活 (alive/lively) creates a compound meaning that something has a living, responsive quality—able to adapt and move with agility.