Skip to content

bilin

bilín with stress marks

request, advice

noun bi-LIN Native origin Less Common

Usage Note

Bilin carries a sense of a parting instruction or a heartfelt request left by someone — often used when an elder leaves a directive for younger family members, or when someone departs and leaves a message. It implies care and expectation of follow-through.

Examples

Beginner

" May bilin si Nanay sa akin. "

Natural Translation

Mom left me an instruction.

Literal Translation

Has request Mom to me.

Intermediate

" Huwag mong kalimutan ang bilin ng iyong ina. "

Natural Translation

Don't forget your mother's advice.

Literal Translation

Don't you forget the request of-your mother.

Advanced

" Bago siya umalis papuntang ibang bansa, iniwan niya ang bilin na alagaan naming mabuti ang kanyang mga halaman. "

Natural Translation

Before she left for another country, she left the instruction that we take good care of her plants.

Literal Translation

Before she left going-to other country, left she the request that take-care-of by-us well the her plants.

Free · iOS & Android

Take Tagalog with you

The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.

Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.

How Tagalog words work

Derived Words

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.