连载 (lián zài) — to publish in installments, to serialize

Definition

连载 (liánzài) means to publish a written work in installments over time — novels, comics, or articles released chapter by chapter. As a verb, it pairs with 被 to show the passive ('be serialized in').

verb
to publish in installmentsto serialize
Easily confused

Examples

  • 连载。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō zài bào zhǐ shàng lián zài le yì nián.
    This novel was serialized in the newspaper for a year.
  • 连载。
    Hěn duō wǎng luò xiǎo shuō dōu zài wǎng zhàn shàng lián zài.
    Many web novels are serialized on websites.
  • 连载。
    Tā de wén zhāng bèi zá zhì lián zài le sān gè yuè.
    His article was serialized in a magazine for three months.

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.

连liáncontinuous
载zǎipublish

“连” indicates continuity, and “载” means to publish or print, so the word describes serial publication.

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 →

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 載; 载 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūchariot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢦏
𢦏𢦏載zài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 載 has 車, a chariot, and 𢦏 gives the sound; 载 is its simplified form.

Open 载 →

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