恋 (liàn) — (bound form) to love; to be fond of; (bound form) to be attached to; to have a strong emotional connection to
Definition
恋 is a bound form meaning 'to love' or 'to be attached to' — it almost never stands alone, appearing chiefly in 恋爱, 恋人, and 留恋 (homesick, reluctant to leave).
bound form
to loveto be fond ofto be attached toto have a strong emotional connection to
Examples
- 。Tā men zhèng zài tán liàn ài.They are falling in love (lit. talking about love).
- 。Tā duì jiā xiāng shí fēn liú liàn.He feels very nostalgic for his hometown (lit. reluctant to leave).
- 。Tā shì wǒ zuì ài de liàn rén.She is my dearest lover.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 戀; 恋 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌戀liàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 戀 pairs 心 (heart) with 䜌 as a sound part; 恋 is a later simplified form.
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