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濂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
濂liána waterfall; a river in Hunang, 16 strokes, radical 氵
濂liánname of a river in Hunanunknown, 16 strokes, radical 氵
lián(lian2) T2
  1. 1a waterfall; a river in Hunan
  2. 2name of a river in Hunan
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

濂lián(lian2)

The character 濂 (lián) primarily refers to a waterfall or a river, specifically a river located in Hunan province, China. Its usage is often related to natural water features, conveying a sense of beauty and tranquility associated with flowing water.

Strokes16Radical氵
Cultural Note

The character 濂 connects to the rich natural landscapes of Hunan province, which is known for its picturesque rivers and waterfalls. These features are often celebrated in Chinese poetry and art, embodying the harmony between nature and human life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a serene river (the 'water' radical 水) cascading down a mountain (the 'mountain' radical 山). The sound 'lián' can be remembered by linking it to 'lean', as if you are leaning over a beautiful waterfall to admire its splendor.

Meanings of 濂

lián(lian2)
1a waterfall; a river in Hunan
2name of a river in Hunan
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 濂

濂Simplified
16Strokes
氵Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 濂

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Podcast: 濂

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AI Study Notes for 濂

Usage Notes

While 濂 is not frequently used in everyday conversation, it can appear in literary contexts or geographical discussions. Be cautious with the tone; the character is pronounced with a second tone (lián), which is a common area of confusion for learners who may mix it with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

As an advanced character not found in the HSK levels, learners should focus on its components—specifically the water radical—and how it is used in more complex phrases or literature. Connecting it to other water-related characters can reinforce understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 濂 with other water-related characters like 河 (hé, river) due to similar meanings. Ensure you practice the correct tones and context to avoid mixing them up.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 濂

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Etymology of 濂

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)廉
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 濂

  1. 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half廉 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywater
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 濂? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 濂?

Decomposition of 濂

IDS Structure⿰氵廉
濂Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
廉lian2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 濂?

How to say a waterfall; a river in Hunan in Chinese

“a waterfall; a river in Hunan” in Chinese is濂lián

The character 濂 (lián) primarily refers to a waterfall or a river, specifically a river located in Hunan province, China. Its usage is often related to natural water features, conveying a sense of beauty and tranquility associated with flowing water.

When to use 濂

While 濂 is not frequently used in everyday conversation, it can appear in literary contexts or geographical discussions. Be cautious with the tone; the character is pronounced with a second tone (lián), which is a common area of confusion for learners who may mix it with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 濂 with other water-related characters like 河 (hé, river) due to similar meanings. Ensure you practice the correct tones and context to avoid mixing them up.

Write 濂

濂

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 濂

Words Containing This Character1
濂liánname of a river in Hunan
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 濂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 濂

It refers to a waterfall or a river in Hunan province, emphasizing the beauty of flowing water.

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