Chinese Character: 炼
1. Character Basics
Radical: 火 (fire radical)
Stroke Count: 9
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: liàn (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
To refine; to smelt; to temper; to practice; to train; to drill; to exercise; to harden; to process; to distill; to purify; to concentrate; to burn; to melt; to forge; to develop; to improve; to perfect
4. Common Words
- 锻炼 (duànliàn) - to exercise; to train; to practice
- 冶炼 (yěliàn) - to smelt; to refine (metals)
- 提炼 (tílìan) - to extract; to refine; to distill
- 炼钢 (liàngāng) - to steelmaking; to refine steel
- 炼金 (liànjīn) - to refine gold; to alchemy
- 炼油 (liànyóu) - to refine oil; to process oil
- 熔炼 (róngliàn) - to smelt; to fuse
- 炼字 (liànzì) - to refine one's writing; to choose words carefully
5. Grammar & Usage
"炼" is a verb that describes the process of improving or purifying something through heat, practice, or other methods.
Grammar Patterns:
- 炼 + 名: 炼钢 (refine steel), 炼字 (refine one's writing)
- 动 + 炼: 锻炼 (exercise), 提炼 (extract)
- 炼 + 成 + 名: 炼成才干 (develop abilities), 炼成熟练 (develop proficiency)
- 炼 + 得 + 补: 炼得强壮 (become strong through exercise)
- 被 + 炼 + 得 + 补: 被炼得更加坚韧 (become more tenacious through training)
6. Cultural Background
The character "炼" has deep cultural significance in Chinese culture, often associated with the idea of transformation through hardship or effort.
In traditional Chinese philosophy, the concept of "修炼" (xiūliàn) refers to spiritual practice or self-cultivation, where individuals refine their character and achieve enlightenment through discipline.
In Chinese metallurgy, which has a long history, "炼" was essential for producing high-quality metals used in tools, weapons, and artwork.
The character is also used metaphorically in literature and everyday language to describe the process of developing skills, character, or understanding through practice and perseverance.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 每天锻炼可以增强体质。
Pinyin: Měitiān duànliàn kěyǐ zēngqiáng tǐzhì.
English: Exercising every day can strengthen your physique.
8. Memory Tips
The character "炼" (liàn) consists of two parts:
- The radical "火" (fire radical) on the left, indicating that the meaning is related to fire or heat
- The component "柬" on the right, which provides the pronunciation
To remember the character, think of it as "using fire (火) to refine or process," which directly relates to its meaning.
Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help with memorization.
Associate the character with common words like "锻炼" (exercise) to reinforce its meaning.
Listen to and practice the pronunciation "liàn" to become familiar with its sound.