Meanings of 奁
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About 奁
Podcast: 奁
Podcast: 奁
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AI Study Notes for 奁
This character is quite formal and is mainly used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Learners might confuse it with similar characters like 奩 (liàn), which also relates to personal items. Be mindful of the tone as 'lián' is pronounced in the second tone.
While 奁 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other words about personal items and feminine aspects, such as 妇 (fù, woman) or 美 (měi, beauty). Students should focus on the context in which it appears, often in classical literature.
Learners often confuse 奁 with more common terms for personal items, mistakenly using it in casual contexts. For example, saying '我有一个奁' (I have a lián) instead of using a more common term like 化妆盒 (huàzhuāng hé, cosmetic box).
Pronunciation of 奁
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Etymology of 奁
A man 大 packing a suitcase 区
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 奁
- 1The giveawayA man 大 packing a suitcase 区
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 奁? 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 奁
Identify the Components
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How to say lady's vanity case; trousseau in Chinese
“lady's vanity case; trousseau” in Chinese is奁
The character 奁 (lián) refers to a lady's vanity case or trousseau, commonly used to describe a decorative container for cosmetics or personal items. In historical contexts, it signifies a woman's belongings, especially those prepared for marriage, highlighting its association with femininity and personal care.
When to use 奁
This character is quite formal and is mainly used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Learners might confuse it with similar characters like 奩 (liàn), which also relates to personal items. Be mindful of the tone as 'lián' is pronounced in the second tone.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 奁 with more common terms for personal items, mistakenly using it in casual contexts. For example, saying '我有一个奁' (I have a lián) instead of using a more common term like 化妆盒 (huàzhuāng hé, cosmetic box).
Write 奁
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Practice writing 奁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 奁
Compound Meaning
What does 奁 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 奁
Both characters are related to personal items, but 奁 specifically refers to a vanity case, while 奩 typically refers to a trousseau.
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