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殮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殮liànto dress a corpse for burialzg, 17 strokes, radical 歹
liàn(lian4) T4
  1. 1to dress a corpse for burial
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

殮liàn(lian4)

The character 殮 (liàn) refers to the act of dressing a corpse for burial, a common practice in various cultures to honor the deceased. It signifies respect and care for the dead, often involving specific rituals and garments. This term is typically used in formal or literary contexts, rather than in everyday conversation.

Strokes17Radical歹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the preparation of a body for burial is steeped in tradition, reflecting Confucian values of filial piety and respect for ancestors. The practice of dressing the dead is often accompanied by rituals that vary by region and ethnic group.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'lián' (pronounced like 'liàn') who carefully dresses a deceased loved one, ensuring they look their best for their final journey. The radical 殳 (shū) relates to actions involving death or the dead, linking it to the concept of preparing someone for burial.

Meanings of 殮

liàn(lian4)
1to dress a corpse for burial
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 殮

殮Simplified
17Strokes
歹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 殮

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Podcast: 殮

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AI Study Notes for 殮

Usage Notes

Be mindful that using 殮 can be considered sensitive or morbid in casual conversation, so it is best reserved for formal discussions about funerary customs. Common collocations include '殮尸' (liànshī - to dress a corpse) and '殮葬' (liànzàng - burial).

HSK Study Tips

While 殮 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other words about death and funerary practices. At higher levels, students should focus on understanding the cultural significance of such terms and their appropriate contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 殮 with similar-sounding words like 恋 (liàn - love), leading to misunderstandings. Remember that 殮 specifically pertains to death and burial practices, whereas 恋 relates to romantic feelings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殮

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Etymology of 殮

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

corpse

Semantic (meaning)歹
+
Phonetic (sound)僉
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 殮

  1. 1The meaning half歹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half僉 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycorpse
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 殮? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 殮?

Decomposition of 殮

IDS Structure⿰歹僉
殮Full Character
=
歹dai3
left
僉qian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 殮?

How to say to dress a corpse for burial in Chinese

“to dress a corpse for burial” in Chinese is殮liàn

The character 殮 (liàn) refers to the act of dressing a corpse for burial, a common practice in various cultures to honor the deceased. It signifies respect and care for the dead, often involving specific rituals and garments. This term is typically used in formal or literary contexts, rather than in everyday conversation.

When to use 殮

Be mindful that using 殮 can be considered sensitive or morbid in casual conversation, so it is best reserved for formal discussions about funerary customs. Common collocations include '殮尸' (liànshī - to dress a corpse) and '殮葬' (liànzàng - burial).

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 殮 with similar-sounding words like 恋 (liàn - love), leading to misunderstandings. Remember that 殮 specifically pertains to death and burial practices, whereas 恋 relates to romantic feelings.

Write 殮

殮

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

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Word Family of 殮

Words Containing This Character3
殓liànto prepare a dead body for coffin殮
入殓to put dead body in coffin入殮
殡殓to bury sb殯殮
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 殓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 殮

Dressing a corpse is seen as a final act of respect and love for the deceased, often involving specific rituals and garments to honor their life.

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