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March 24, 2026
恋(戀)liàn(lian4)
The character 恋 (liàn) refers to the feelings of attachment, longing, and love. It is commonly used in contexts related to romantic feelings and deep emotional connections, often indicating a passionate or sincere affection for someone or something.
Strokes10Radical心Frequency#2312DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, love is often portrayed as a deep attachment that can lead to both joy and sorrow, reflected in many traditional stories and modern films. The concept of 恋 is significant in poetry and literature, often symbolizing an intense yearning.
Memory Tip
Imagine a heart (representing love) intertwined with a chain (the radical '心' for heart) to symbolize attachment. The pronunciation 'liàn' can be remembered by thinking of a 'land' where love grows, creating a vivid image of romance and connection.
Meanings of 恋
liàn(lian4)
1to feel attached to
2to long for
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 恋
恋Simplified
戀Traditional
10Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2312Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 恋
Podcast: 恋
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AI Study Notes for 恋
Quick Contrast
恋 (liàn) vs 爱 (ài) — use 恋 for romantic attachment or longing, while 爱 conveys a broader sense of love, including familial or platonic affection.
Usage Notes
This term is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful not to confuse it with the character 爱 (ài), which means 'to love' in a broader sense. Common collocations include 恋爱 (liàn'ài, to be in love) and 恋人 (liànrén, lover). The third tone in 'liàn' can sometimes be mispronounced, so pay special attention to tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 恋 is not specified in HSK lists, it is relevant for learners at HSK 4 or higher, especially when discussing emotions and relationships. Students should focus on the context of romantic relationships and associated vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 恋 with 爱, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我爱她' (Wǒ ài tā) is fine, but if you want to express a deeper longing, you might say '我恋她' (Wǒ liàn tā) instead. This distinction is important for conveying the right emotion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 恋
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Knowing 恋 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.
恋 = 心 + 亦. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 恋
IDS Structure⿱亦心
恋Full Character
=
亦yi4
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 恋?
How to say to feel attached to in Chinese
“to feel attached to” in Chinese is恋liàn
The character 恋 (liàn) refers to the feelings of attachment, longing, and love. It is commonly used in contexts related to romantic feelings and deep emotional connections, often indicating a passionate or sincere affection for someone or something.
When to use 恋
This term is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful not to confuse it with the character 爱 (ài), which means 'to love' in a broader sense. Common collocations include 恋爱 (liàn'ài, to be in love) and 恋人 (liànrén, lover). The third tone in 'liàn' can sometimes be mispronounced, so pay special attention to tone.
恋 or something close to it
恋 (liàn) vs 爱 (ài) — use 恋 for romantic attachment or longing, while 爱 conveys a broader sense of love, including familial or platonic affection.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 恋 with 爱, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我爱她' (Wǒ ài tā) is fine, but if you want to express a deeper longing, you might say '我恋她' (Wǒ liàn tā) instead. This distinction is important for conveying the right emotion.
Write 恋
恋
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Grammar Patterns of 恋
恋 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
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Word Family of 恋
Words Containing This Character20
同性恋homosexuality同性戀
恋爱liàn’ài(romantic) love戀愛
恋liànto love戀
失恋shīliànto lose one's love失戀
恋人lover戀人
初恋first love初戀
迷恋míliànto indulge in迷戀
恋情romantic love戀情
留恋liúliànreluctant to leave留戀
热恋to be passionately in love熱戀
爱恋in love with愛戀
相恋to love each other相戀
依恋to cling to依戀
眷恋to miss眷戀
早恋puppy love早戀
婚外恋extramarital affair婚外戀
婚恋love and marriage婚戀
恋恋不舍liànliànbùshěreluctant to part戀戀不捨
网恋cyberdate網戀
贪恋to cling to貪戀
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 恋
What does 同性恋 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 恋
恋 (liàn) and 爱 (ài) both relate to love, but they convey different nuances. 恋 (liàn) often implies a romantic attachment or infatuation, while 爱 (ài) denotes a deeper, more profound love. Understanding these differences can enhance your ability to express feelings accurately in Chinese.
To use 恋 (liàn) in a sentence, you can say '我恋爱了' (wǒ liàn'ài le), which translates to 'I am in love'. You can also say '我对他有恋情' (wǒ duì tā yǒu liànqíng), meaning 'I have feelings for him'. It captures both the emotional attachment and longing aspects.
恋 (liàn) means to feel attached to, to long for, or to love. It is commonly used in contexts related to romantic feelings and attachment. In Chinese, it can be found in words like '恋爱' (liàn'ài), which means 'romantic love'.
You can use it in a sentence like '我恋爱了' (Wǒ liàn'ài le), meaning 'I am in love.'
While it primarily refers to romantic love, it can also express a strong attachment to people or even places.
恋 (liàn) often conveys a deeper longing or attachment, while 爱 (ài) is a more general term for love.
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