Learn a Chinese Character - 连

1. Character Basics

Radical: 辶 (走之底, walking radical)

Stroke Count: 7

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lián (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Connect; link; join; even; continuous; in succession; include

4. Common Words

• 连接 (lián jiē) - Connect; link
• 连续 (lián xù) - Continuous; successive
• 连忙 (lián máng) - Hurriedly; at once
• 连长 (lián zhǎng) - Company commander
• 连线 (lián xiàn) - Connecting line
• 连带 (lián dài) - Related; associated
• 连锁 (lián suǒ) - Chain; interlock
• 连衣裙 (lián yī qún) - Dress

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "连" (lián) has multiple uses in Chinese:

• As a verb:表示连接、连续等意思。例如：这条公路连接了两个城市。(This road connects two cities.)
• As an adverb:表示强调，甚至的意思。例如：他连饭都没吃就走了。(He left without even eating.)
• As a preposition:表示包括。例如：连我在内共有五个人。(There are five people including me.)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character "连" is often associated with concepts of unity, continuity, and inheritance. For example, the phrase "连战连捷" (lián zhàn lián jié) means to achieve continuous victories, reflecting the Chinese value of pursuing sustained success. Additionally, the traditional Chinese philosophical idea of "天人合一" (tiān rén hé yī), which means harmony between humans and nature, also has some connection with the meaning of connection and integration implied by "连".

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "连" (lián) consists of "车" (chē, cart/vehicle) and "辶" (chuò, walking radical). You can imagine a vehicle moving continuously on the road, which helps remember that this character is related to connection and continuity.