Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
煉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
煉liànto smelt, to refine; to distill, to condensex, 13 strokes, radical 火
liàn(lian4)lian T4
  1. 1to smelt, to refine; to distill, to condense
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

煉liàn(lian4)

The character 煉 (liàn) refers to the processes of smelting, refining, or distilling substances to purify or concentrate them. It is commonly used in contexts related to metallurgy, chemistry, and cooking, where the transformation of materials into a more usable or valuable form is emphasized.

Strokes13Radical火
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese alchemy, the process of refining substances was not only a physical transformation but also a spiritual one, believed to lead to immortality. This reflects the deep connection between physical practices and philosophical beliefs in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a blacksmith (the radical 火, meaning 'fire') refining metals over a hot furnace, transforming raw ore into shiny gold. The sound 'liàn' can be remembered by picturing a 'lantern' that illuminates the process of refining, guiding the way to purity.

Meanings of 煉

liàn(lian4)
1to smelt, to refine; to distill, to condense
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 煉 means.

About 煉

煉Simplified
13Strokes
火Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 煉

JasonAmy

Podcast: 煉

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 煉

Quick Contrast

炼 (liàn, to refine) vs 精炼 (jīngliàn, to purify or refine to a high degree) — use 煉 for general refining processes, while 精炼 emphasizes a higher level of purity.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 煉, as using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with similarly pronounced words. It is often used in formal contexts related to industry or science, so ensure you use it appropriately in conversation. Common collocations include 煉金 (liànjīn, 'smelt gold') and 煉油 (liànyóu, 'refine oil').

HSK Study Tips

While 煉 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to materials and processes. Focus on building a foundational understanding of related terms, such as 金 (gold) and 油 (oil), to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 煉 (liàn) with 鍊 (liàn, 'to chain'), which can lead to incorrect meanings in context. Ensure you remember that 煉 specifically pertains to processes of smelting and refining.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 煉

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 煉, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 煉 to you

Let me explain 煉 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 煉 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 煉?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 煉 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 煉

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

Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 柬 represents the sound. Simplified form of 煉.

Memory hint

fire

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

Origin

煉 = 火 + 柬. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 煉

IDS Structure⿰火柬
煉Full character
=
火Huo3
left
柬Jian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 煉?

How to say to smelt, to refine; to distill, to condense in Chinese

“to smelt, to refine; to distill, to condense” in Chinese is煉liàn

The character 煉 (liàn) refers to the processes of smelting, refining, or distilling substances to purify or concentrate them. It is commonly used in contexts related to metallurgy, chemistry, and cooking, where the transformation of materials into a more usable or valuable form is emphasized.

When to use 煉

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 煉, as using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with similarly pronounced words. It is often used in formal contexts related to industry or science, so ensure you use it appropriately in conversation. Common collocations include 煉金 (liànjīn, 'smelt gold') and 煉油 (liànyóu, 'refine oil').

煉 or something close to it

炼 (liàn, to refine) vs 精炼 (jīngliàn, to purify or refine to a high degree) — use 煉 for general refining processes, while 精炼 emphasizes a higher level of purity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 煉 (liàn) with 鍊 (liàn, 'to chain'), which can lead to incorrect meanings in context. Ensure you remember that 煉 specifically pertains to processes of smelting and refining.

Write 煉

煉

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 煉?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Word Family of 煉

Words containing this character20
锻炼duànliànto toughen鍛鍊
炼liànto refine煉
修炼to practice asceticism修煉
炼狱purgatory煉獄
提炼tíliànto refine提煉
精炼to purify精煉
炼油厂oil refinery煉油廠
冶炼to smelt metal冶煉
炼油oil refinery煉油
磨炼to temper oneself磨煉
炼金术alchemy煉金術
炼钢steelmaking煉鋼
炼制(chemistry) to refine煉製
炼铁smelting iron煉鐵
炼丹to concoct pills of immortality煉丹
熔炼to smelt熔煉
炼乳condensed milk煉乳
炼焦coking煉焦
千锤百炼the vicissitudes of life千錘百鍊
炼钢厂steel mill煉鋼廠
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 煉

What does 锻炼 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 煉

You can say '我在煉金' (Wǒ zài liànjīn) meaning 'I am smelting gold.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 煉?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab