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依恋 (yī liàn) — be reluctant to part from; feel attached to (a person, place, or memory)

Definition

A formal, often emotional verb for clinging to or feeling attached to someone/something — stronger than simple 喜欢, with a tone of unwillingness to let go.

verb
be reluctant to part fromfeel attached to (a person, place, or memory)

Examples

  • 依恋。
    Tā hěn yī liàn zì jǐ de jiā xiāng.
    He is reluctant to leave his hometown.
  • 依恋。
    Hái zi duì mǔ qīn yǒu yì zhǒng shēn shēn de yī liàn zhī qíng.
    The child has a deep feeling of attachment toward the mother.
  • 依恋。
    Tā yī liàn nà yí duàn měi hǎo de shí guāng.
    She still longs for that beautiful time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

依yīrely
恋liàncherish

“依” (rely) and “恋” (cherish) together give a lingering attachment.

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
亻Written in full as人rénhuman
Sound part声符shēngfú
衣
衣yī依yī
Same sound today

依 is made from 亻, a person, plus 衣, which gives its sound.

Open 依 →

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 戀; 恋 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
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.

Open 恋 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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