Where does “binh lính” come from?

binh lính (Vietnamese) comes from Vietnamese lính, from Chinese 靈.

binh lính (Vietnamese): soldiers generally speaking

Definitions

  1. soldiers generally speaking

Ancestry of “binh lính”, step by step

binh lính traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Vietnamese lính

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vietnameselínha soldier; a subordinate, a low-class personnel
2Chinese靈—

via Vietnamese Bình

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1VietnameseBình—
2Middle Chinese平—
Every word from Chinese 靈 →Every word from Vietnamese lính →