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连绵 (lián mián) — continuous, unbroken (of mountain ranges, rain, war, etc.)

Definition

连绵 is a literary verb for things that stretch on without a break — mountain ranges, rain, warfare. More formal and vivid than the plain 不断 / 连续, and usually describes natural or historical scenes rather than discrete actions.

verb
continuousunbroken (of mountain ranges, rain, war, etc.)

Examples

  • 连绵，。
    Yuǎn chù de qún shān lián mián qǐ fú, fēi cháng zhuàng guān.
    The distant mountain ranges stretch continuously, very spectacular.
  • 连绵，。
    Zhè ge yuè yīn yǔ lián mián, yī fu dōu shài bù gān.
    It has been raining continuously this month, and the clothes can't dry.
  • 连绵，。
    Lì shǐ shàng zhè piàn dì qū zhàn huǒ lián mián, bǎi xìng shēng huó kùn kǔ.
    Historically, this region saw unbroken warfare, and the people lived in hardship.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

连liánlink
绵miáncontinuous

连 and 绵 both carry linking and extending, giving continuous unbroken movement.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 連; 连 is its simplified writing.

  • 辶辵chuòto walk
  • 車車jūchariot

The traditional form 連 joins 辶 (walk) and 車 (chariot) to show a man-drawn carriage; this note is about 連, not the simplified 连.

Open 连 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 绵 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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