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奩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
liánlady's vanity case; trousseaux, 14 strokes, radical 大, Very Hard
lián(lian2) T2
  1. 1lady's vanity case; trousseau
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March 24, 2026

lián(lian2)

The character 奩 (lián) refers to a lady's vanity case or trousseau, often associated with traditional Chinese culture. It embodies the idea of personal adornment and the possessions a woman might carry for beauty and grooming, reflecting societal norms about femininity and appearance.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese society, a woman's vanity case was not only a practical item but also a status symbol, reflecting her family's wealth and her own social standing. The concept of a trousseau also ties into marriage customs where women would prepare personal belongings for their new lives.

Memory Tip

Imagine a lady named 'Lian' who carries a beautiful vanity case filled with makeup and jewelry. The character 奩 resembles a case with a lid, and the pronunciation 'lián' sounds like her name, making it easier to remember this connection to beauty and elegance.

Meanings of 奩

lián(lian2)
1lady's vanity case; trousseau
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 奩

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 奩

JasonAmy

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AI Study Notes for 奩

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a lady named 'Lian' who carries a beautiful vanity case filled with makeup and jewelry. The character 奩 resembles a case with a lid, and the pronunciation 'lián' sounds like her name, making it easier to remember this connection to beauty and elegance.

Usage Notes

This term is quite specific and may not frequently appear in everyday conversations, making it somewhat formal. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure proper tones are used, as mispronunciation can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 奩 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it can help expand your understanding of culturally significant terms. Familiarize yourself with related words about personal items and grooming to build a broader vocabulary in this area.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese society, a woman's vanity case was not only a practical item but also a status symbol, reflecting her family's wealth and her own social standing. The concept of a trousseau also ties into marriage customs where women would prepare personal belongings for their new lives.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 奩 with similar characters like 妍 (yán, beauty), which relates to appearance but does not refer to a physical item. Remember, 奩 specifically denotes a case or collection of beauty items.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 奩

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Etymology of 奩

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A man 大 packing a suitcase 區

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 奩?

Decomposition of 奩

IDS Structure⿱大區
Full Character
=
da4
top
qu1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 奩?

Write 奩

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

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Cultural Notes for 奩

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese society, a woman's vanity case was not only a practical item but also a status symbol, reflecting her family's wealth and her own social standing. The concept of a trousseau also ties into marriage customs where women would prepare personal belongings for their new lives.

Word Family of 奩

Words Containing This Character3
liánbridal trousseau
妆奁trousseau妝奩
陪奁dowry陪奩
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 奁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 奩

The pinyin 'lián' has a rising tone, similar to the English word 'land' but with a slight rise in pitch.