【析形】形声字。古文字形从金,令声。 【释义】《说文》:“令丁也。”本义是古代一种作发号指示用的乐器。形体似钟而小,中悬铁制的铃胆,在钟体上置柄,或在铃心下系绳摇动发声。新石器时代已有陶铃出土,后世多为铜制。后引申为泛指能发声的铃状物。 【shape analysis】It is the pictophonetic character.In Oncient character its meaning is related to the part金(jīn,metal),while it sounds like the pronunciation of 令(lìng). 【original meaning】It is a kind of musical instrument for instruction and order,like a small clock,with a ring bell hanging in the middle and a handle on the body or with a string tied to the ring bell for shaking to make sound.