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恋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
恋liànto feel attached toHSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 心, rank #2312, Hard
恋liànto long forHSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 心, rank #2312, Hard
恋liànto loveHSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 心, rank #2312, Hard
恋liànlove; to yearn for, to long forHSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 心, rank #2312, Hard
liàn(lian4) T4
  1. 1to feel attached to
  2. 2to long for
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
恋(戀)liàn(lian4)

The character 恋 (liàn) refers to the feelings of attachment, longing, and love. It is commonly used in contexts related to romantic feelings and deep emotional connections, often indicating a passionate or sincere affection for someone or something.

Strokes10Radical心Frequency#2312DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, love is often portrayed as a deep attachment that can lead to both joy and sorrow, reflected in many traditional stories and modern films. The concept of 恋 is significant in poetry and literature, often symbolizing an intense yearning.

Memory Tip

Imagine a heart (representing love) intertwined with a chain (the radical '心' for heart) to symbolize attachment. The pronunciation 'liàn' can be remembered by thinking of a 'land' where love grows, creating a vivid image of romance and connection.

Meanings of 恋

liàn(lian4)
1to feel attached to
2to long for
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 恋

恋Simplified
戀Traditional
10Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2312Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6

Podcast: 恋

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Podcast: 恋

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 恋

Quick Contrast

恋 (liàn) vs 爱 (ài) — use 恋 for romantic attachment or longing, while 爱 conveys a broader sense of love, including familial or platonic affection.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a heart (representing love) intertwined with a chain (the radical '心' for heart) to symbolize attachment. The pronunciation 'liàn' can be remembered by thinking of a 'land' where love grows, creating a vivid image of romance and connection.

Usage Notes

This term is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful not to confuse it with the character 爱 (ài), which means 'to love' in a broader sense. Common collocations include 恋爱 (liàn'ài, to be in love) and 恋人 (liànrén, lover). The third tone in 'liàn' can sometimes be mispronounced, so pay special attention to tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 恋 is not specified in HSK lists, it is relevant for learners at HSK 4 or higher, especially when discussing emotions and relationships. Students should focus on the context of romantic relationships and associated vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, love is often portrayed as a deep attachment that can lead to both joy and sorrow, reflected in many traditional stories and modern films. The concept of 恋 is significant in poetry and literature, often symbolizing an intense yearning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 恋 with 爱, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我爱她' (Wǒ ài tā) is fine, but if you want to express a deeper longing, you might say '我恋她' (Wǒ liàn tā) instead. This distinction is important for conveying the right emotion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 恋

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Etymology of 恋

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 亦 represents the sound. Simplified form of 戀.

Memory Hint

heart

Semantic (meaning)心
+
Phonetic (sound)亦
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 恋?

Decomposition of 恋

IDS Structure⿱亦心
恋Full Character
=
亦yi4
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 恋?

Write 恋

恋

Practice writing 恋 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 恋

恋 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

Related grammar lessons1
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

...

这是我爱的书。

Zhè shì wǒ ài de shū.

This is the book I love.

Exercise 1 of 1

Build the Sentence

This is the book I love.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Common Confusions with 恋

恋vs连
lián

Same pinyin and similar shape but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to feel attached to"?

or

Usage Notes for 恋

Using 恋 in sentencesGrammar Tip

恋 can be used to express romantic feelings or deep attachment. Often followed by a noun indicating the object of affection.

1

我恋她已久。

I have loved her for a long time.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我____她已久。

I have loved her for a long time.

Example Sentences for 恋 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
一段美满的恋情需要彼此关心并体恤对方的情感。

yī duàn měi mǎn de liàn qíng xū yào bǐ cǐ guān xīn bìng tǐ xù duì fāng de qíng gǎn。

A good relationship involves concern and sensitivity for each other's feelings.
2
他背负着多重的感情包袱开始这段恋情？

tā bèi fù zháo duō zhòng de gǎn qíng bāo fú kāi shǐ zhè duàn liàn qíng？

How much emotional baggage is he bringing with him into the relationship?
3
那些曾经恋爱不顺利的人都会同情休。

nà xiē zēng jīng liàn ài bù shùn lì de rén dū huì tóng qíng xiū。

Anyone who has been in a troubled relationship will sympathise with Sue.
4
被自恋症折磨的人会变得只专注于自己的事情，或者不断地自我炫耀。

bèi zì liàn zhèng zhē mó de rén huì biàn dé zhī zhuān zhù yú zì jǐ de shì qíng， ， huò zhě bù duàn dì zì wǒ xuàn。

Those who suffer from narcissism become self-absorbed or chronic show-offs.
5
要求忠诚意味着你想发展一段严肃认真的恋爱关系。

yào qiú zhōng chéng yì wèi zháo nǐ xiǎng fā zhǎn yī duàn yán sù rèn zhēn de liàn ài guān xì。

Wanting fidelity implies you're thinking about a major relationship.
6
制片人决定结束她在影片中与皮尔斯·劳顿的恋情。

zhì piàn rén jué dìng jié shù tā zài yǐng piàn zhōng yǔ pí ěr sī· · láo dùn de liàn。

Producers decided to end her on-screen romance with Pierce Lawton.
7
很多人都很留恋过去的好时光。

hěn duō rén dū hěn liú liàn guò qù de hǎo shí guāng。

Many people were nostalgic for the good old days.
8
她和哈里恋爱的各阶段写得非常细腻深刻。

tā hé hā lǐ liàn ài de gè jiē duàn xiě dé fēi cháng xì nì shēn kè。

The stages in her love affair with Harry are perceptively written.
9
我每次谈恋爱都深陷其中，无法自拔。

wǒ měi cì tán liàn ài dū shēn xiàn qí zhōng， ， wú fǎ zì。

Whenever I get into a relationship, I always fall madly in love.
10
很多领导人都变得贪恋权力和金钱。

hěn duō lǐng dǎo rén dū biàn dé tān liàn quán lì hé jīn qián。

Many of the leaders have become hooked on power and money.

Cultural Notes for 恋

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, love is often portrayed as a deep attachment that can lead to both joy and sorrow, reflected in many traditional stories and modern films. The concept of 恋 is significant in poetry and literature, often symbolizing an intense yearning.

Word Family of 恋

Words Containing This Character20
同性恋homosexuality同性戀
恋爱liàn’ài(romantic) love戀愛
恋liànto love戀
失恋shīliànto lose one's love失戀
恋人lover戀人
初恋first love初戀
迷恋míliànto indulge in迷戀
恋情romantic love戀情
留恋liúliànreluctant to leave留戀
热恋to be passionately in love熱戀
爱恋in love with愛戀
相恋to love each other相戀
依恋to cling to依戀
眷恋to miss眷戀
早恋puppy love早戀
婚外恋extramarital affair婚外戀
婚恋love and marriage婚戀
恋恋不舍liànliànbùshěreluctant to part戀戀不捨
网恋cyberdate網戀
贪恋to cling to貪戀
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 同性恋 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 恋

恋 (liàn) and 爱 (ài) both relate to love, but they convey different nuances. 恋 (liàn) often implies a romantic attachment or infatuation, while 爱 (ài) denotes a deeper, more profound love. Understanding these differences can enhance your ability to express feelings accurately in Chinese.