一连 (yī lián) — in a row, in succession | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adverb meaning 'in a row, in succession', emphasizing unbroken duration (e.g. several weeks, ten kilometers). Similar to 连续 and 接连, but 一连 frames the action as one continuous stretch, often with a number or duration.

adverb

in a rowin succession

Examples

一连。
Tā yī lián jǐ gè xīng qī méi yǒu xiū xi le.
He hasn't had a rest for several weeks in a row.
一连。
Wǒ men yī lián zǒu le shí gōng lǐ.
We walked ten kilometers straight.
一连。
Zhè ge yuè yī lián fā shēng le sān qǐ shì gù.
Three accidents occurred in succession this month.

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.

一 means one and 连 means linked, so it conveys a row without a break.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

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.

辶車連

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Frequency & Duration

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