Learn a Chinese Character - 论

1. Character Basics

Radical: 讠 (yán, speech radical)

Stroke Count: 6

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lùn (Fourth tone, most common) / lún (Second tone, less common)

3. Meaning

To discuss, to debate, theory, thesis, statement, to consider

4. Common Words

• 讨论 (tǎolùn) - to discuss
• 理论 (lǐlùn) - theory
• 论文 (lùnwén) - thesis, paper
• 言论 (yánlùn) - speech, expression of opinion
• 评论 (pínglùn) - comment, critique
• 辩论 (biànlùn) - debate
• 论说 (lùnshuō) - to expound, to discuss
• 无论 (wúlùn) - regardless of, no matter
• 结论 (jiélùn) - conclusion
• 论点 (lùndiǎn) - argument, point

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "论" has multiple uses in Chinese grammar:

1. As a verb:
- 我们正在讨论这个问题。 (Wǒmen zhèngzài tǎolùn zhège wèntí.) - We are discussing this problem.
- 他经常在会议上论说自己的观点。 (Tā jīngcháng zài huìyì shàng lùnshuō zìjǐ de guāndiǎn.) - He often expounds his views at meetings.

2. As a noun:
- 他的理论很有创新性。 (Tā de lǐlùn hěn yǒu chuàngxīnxìng.) - His theory is very innovative.
- 这篇论文获得了奖项。 (Zhè piān lùnwén huòdéle jiǎngxiàng.) - This paper won an award.

3. In fixed structures:
- 无论如何 (wúlùn rúhé) - no matter what
- 论年龄 (lùn niánlíng) - in terms of age
- 论能力 (lùn nénglì) - in terms of ability

4. In idioms and set phrases:
- 论功行赏 (lùn gōng xíng shǎng) - to reward according to merit
- 相提并论 (xiāngtí-bìnglùn) - to mention in the same breath
- 一概而论 (yīgài'érlùn) - to lump together, to generalize

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character "论" has significant importance in academic and philosophical traditions. Many important ancient texts are named with "论", such as "The Analects" (《论语》) by Confucius and "Balanced Discourses" (《论衡》) by Wang Chong. These works reflect the Chinese emphasis on rational thinking, dialectical discussion, and the pursuit of truth through debate and discourse. The concept of "论" also plays a role in traditional Chinese education, where students are encouraged to develop their ability to argue logically and express their views clearly.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "论" consists of 讠 (yán, speech radical) on the left and 仑 (lún) on the right. You can remember this character by associating "讠" with speaking or language, and "仑" with条理 (tiáolǐ, order) or 顺序 (shùnxù, sequence). Together, they represent "speaking in an orderly manner" or "expressing ideas systematically," which aligns with the meaning of "论" (to discuss, to debate). Visualize a person engaged in a thoughtful discussion, expressing ideas clearly and logically.