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修炼 (xiū liàn) — to cultivate (oneself) through spiritual or ascetic practice; to train intensively (in martial arts or a skill)

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning to cultivate oneself through long spiritual or ascetic practice (Daoist, Buddhist, or martial arts). It implies sustained discipline over time, not casual practice.

verb
to cultivate (oneself) through spiritual or ascetic practiceto train intensively (in martial arts or a skill)

Examples

  • ，修炼。
    Tā yǐn jū shēn shān, zhuān xīn xiū liàn dào fǎ.
    He lived in seclusion in the deep mountains, focusing on cultivating Daoist arts.
  • 修炼。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō lǐ de zhǔ jué xiū liàn le jǐ bǎi nián cái chéng xiān.
    The protagonist in this novel cultivated for several hundred years before becoming an immortal.
  • 修炼。
    Xiàn dài rén tōng guò yú jiā hé míng xiǎng xiū liàn nèi xīn.
    Modern people cultivate their inner selves through yoga and meditation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

修xiūcultivate
炼liànrefine

修 means to cultivate, and 炼 means to refine; together they describe disciplined training.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu修xiū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

修 is built from 攸, which gives the sound, and 彡, a set of three strokes that shows the meaning.

Open 修 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 煉; 炼 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 炼 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words it is 煉; in others (锻炼) it is 鍊.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
柬
柬jiǎn煉liàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 煉 pairs 火 (fire) with 柬 as its sound part. The simplified 炼 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical component.

Open 炼 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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