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March 24, 2026
廉(㢘)lián(lian2)
The character 廉 (lián) primarily conveys the meanings of honesty, integrity, and incorruptibility. It is often used in contexts related to moral character or ethical behavior, and can also refer to something that is inexpensive. In historical and cultural settings, it may denote uprightness in governance or personal conduct.
Strokes13Radical广Frequency#27204DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 廉 is closely associated with Confucian values, emphasizing moral integrity and the importance of being upright in both personal and public life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wall representing stability (the radical '阝', which resembles a side wall) standing tall against corruption. The sound 'lián' can be remembered as 'lean' – a lean, honest figure, steadfast and upright.
Meanings of 廉
lián(lian2)
1incorruptible
2honest
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 廉
廉Simplified
㢘Traditional
13Strokes
广Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#27204Frequency Rank
Podcast: 廉
Podcast: 廉
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AI Study Notes for 廉
Quick Contrast
清廉 (qīnglián) vs 廉 (lián): 清廉 emphasizes purity and incorruptibility, often in a moral or ethical context, while 廉 can also refer to being inexpensive.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 廉 with similar-sounding characters or those with related meanings. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often collocating with terms about ethics or pricing. Pay attention to the tone, as 'lián' must be pronounced with a rising tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 廉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its meanings align with themes of integrity and morality found in HSK Level 4 and above. Students should focus on the character's usage in phrases about honesty and ethics.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 廉 by using the wrong tone, saying it as 'liǎn' instead of 'lián'. Additionally, some might confuse it with 廉价 (liánjià) and incorrectly use it to mean 'cheap' without the context of integrity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 廉
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Decomposition of 廉
IDS Structure⿸广兼
廉Full Character
=
广Guang3
enclosing
兼jian1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 廉?
How to say surname Lian in Chinese
“surname Lian” in Chinese is廉lián
The character 廉 (lián) primarily conveys the meanings of honesty, integrity, and incorruptibility. It is often used in contexts related to moral character or ethical behavior, and can also refer to something that is inexpensive. In historical and cultural settings, it may denote uprightness in governance or personal conduct.
When to use 廉
Learners often confuse 廉 with similar-sounding characters or those with related meanings. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often collocating with terms about ethics or pricing. Pay attention to the tone, as 'lián' must be pronounced with a rising tone.
廉 or something close to it
清廉 (qīnglián) vs 廉 (lián): 清廉 emphasizes purity and incorruptibility, often in a moral or ethical context, while 廉 can also refer to being inexpensive.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 廉 by using the wrong tone, saying it as 'liǎn' instead of 'lián'. Additionally, some might confuse it with 廉价 (liánjià) and incorrectly use it to mean 'cheap' without the context of integrity.
Write 廉
廉
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Practice writing 廉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 廉
廉 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 9 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
威____和企业家尼古拉斯·考特联手推出这款新车。
William joined forces with businessman Nicholas Court to launch the new vehicle.
