Chinese Character: 恋
1. Character Basics
Radical: 心 (xīn, heart radical)
Stroke Count: 10
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: liàn (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
Love; affection; attachment; to love; to be fond of; to yearn for; to long for; to miss; to be attached to
4. Common Words
- 恋爱 (liàn'ài) - to be in love; love; romance
- 恋人 (liànrén) - lover; sweetheart; beloved
- 恋爱关系 (liàn'ài guānxì) - romantic relationship
- 暗恋 (ànliàn) - to have a secret crush on someone
- 恋爱中 (liàn'ài zhōng) - in a romantic relationship; dating
- 相恋 (xiāngliàn) - to love each other; to be in love
- 恋爱自由 (liàn'ài zìyóu) - freedom to love; freedom of choice in love
- 初恋 (chūliàn) - first love
5. Grammar & Usage
"恋" is a verb and noun that describes deep affection, love, or attachment.
Grammar Patterns:
- 恋 + 名: 恋人 (lover), 恋家 (homesick)
- 动 + 恋: 相恋 (love each other), 暗恋 (secret crush)
- 恋 + 于 + 名: 恋于故土 (attached to one's homeland)
- 恋 + 上 + 名: 恋上一个人 (fall in love with someone)
- 名 + 恋: 初恋 (first love), 失恋 (break up; be jilted)
6. Cultural Background
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of "恋" (love) has evolved significantly over time.
Historically, arranged marriages were common, and romantic love was not always the primary consideration. However, literature and poetry throughout Chinese history have celebrated the beauty of love and longing.
Today, love and romantic relationships are highly valued, especially among younger generations, though traditional values of family and commitment still play important roles.
Chinese culture places emphasis on the depth and sincerity of love rather than just passion, and the character "恋" captures this sense of deep emotional attachment.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 他们相恋多年，终于决定结婚了。
Pinyin: Tāmen xiāngliàn duōnián, zhōngyú juédìng jiéhūn le.
English: They have been in love for many years and finally decided to get married.
8. Memory Tips
The character "恋" (liàn) consists of two parts:
- The component "亦" on the top, which helps with pronunciation
- The radical "心" (heart radical) at the bottom, indicating that the meaning is related to the heart or emotions
To remember the character, think of it as "the heart (心) that feels deep affection," which directly relates to its meaning of love or attachment.
Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help with memorization.
Associate the character with common words like "恋爱" (romance) to reinforce its meaning.
Listen to and practice the pronunciation "liàn" to become familiar with its sound.