链接 (liàn jiē) — to link, to connect (e.g., files, websites, dat… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

链接 emphasizes the digital/online sense — hyperlinks on a web page or linking files digitally. 连接 is the more general 'connect' for physical things or systems.

verb

to linkto connect (e.g., files, websites, data)

Easily confused

连接lián jiēlook-aliketo connect; to link; to join

Examples

链接。
Qǐng bǎ zhè zhāng tú piàn liàn jiē dào nà ge wén jiàn jiā lǐ.
Please link this image into that folder.
链接？
Nǐ néng bāng wǒ liàn jiē liǎng gè ruǎn jiàn ma?
Can you help me link the two software programs?
，链接。
Zài wǎng yè shàng, liàn jiē wén běn shì hěn cháng jiàn de cāo zuò.
Linking text on a webpage is a very common operation.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

接jiēconnect

链 means chain and 接 means connect, so 链接 is to connect like a chain.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鏈; 链 is its simplified writing.

金連鏈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

連

連lián鏈liàn

Same sound today

The traditional form 鏈 pairs 金 (metal) with 連, which gives the sound; the simplified 链 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical parts.

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

扌妾接

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

妾

妾qiè接jiē

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 shows a hand, matching the sense of receiving something in the hand, while 妾 gives the character its sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Computers & Internet

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.