Meanings of 涟
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About 涟
Podcast: 涟
Podcast: 涟
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AI Study Notes for 涟
涟 (lián) vs 波 (bō) — use 涟 for gentle ripples or emotional nuances, while 波 indicates larger, more forceful waves.
Be careful not to confuse 涟 (lián) with similar characters related to water, such as 波 (bō), which means wave. 涟 is more poetic and often used in literary contexts. It is typically seen in written Chinese rather than everyday conversation.
Though not part of the official HSK levels, 涟 can enhance vocabulary related to nature and emotions at higher levels. Students should focus on contextual usage and collocations with other water-related terms and emotional expressions.
Learners may confuse 涟 (lián) with other water-related characters like 浪 (làng), which means wave. It's important to remember that 涟 specifically refers to ripples or weeping, while 浪 refers to larger, more tumultuous waves.
Pronunciation of 涟
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Etymology of 涟
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 连 represents the sound. Simplified form of 漣.
water
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 涟
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 连 represents the sound. Simplified form of 漣.
- 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half连 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaywater
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 涟? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 涟
Identify the Components
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How to say flowing water; ripples; weeping in Chinese
“flowing water; ripples; weeping” in Chinese is涟
The character 涟 (lián) primarily refers to the rippling effect of water, often evoking imagery of gentle waves or flowing streams. It can also metaphorically represent tears, suggesting a sense of sadness or emotional expression. This character is commonly used in poetic contexts and descriptions of nature.
When to use 涟
Be careful not to confuse 涟 (lián) with similar characters related to water, such as 波 (bō), which means wave. 涟 is more poetic and often used in literary contexts. It is typically seen in written Chinese rather than everyday conversation.
涟 or something close to it
涟 (lián) vs 波 (bō) — use 涟 for gentle ripples or emotional nuances, while 波 indicates larger, more forceful waves.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 涟 (lián) with other water-related characters like 浪 (làng), which means wave. It's important to remember that 涟 specifically refers to ripples or weeping, while 浪 refers to larger, more tumultuous waves.
Write 涟
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Practice writing 涟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 涟
涟 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
往池塘里扔块鹅卵石就会激起一片____漪。
You throw a pebble in a pool and it ripples.
Example Sentences for 涟 (1)
Word Family of 涟
Compound Meaning
What does 涟漪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 涟
The pronunciation is 'lián,' which has a rising tone.
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