(lián) — sickle

Definition

noun
sickle
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Zhè bǎ lián dāo hěn fēng lì.
    This sickle is very sharp.
  • Nóng mín shǐ yòng lián dāo shōu gē dào zi.
    Farmers use sickles to harvest rice.
  • lián Dāo shì yì zhǒng gǔ lǎo de nóng jù.
    The sickle is an ancient agricultural tool.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 鐮; 镰 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
jīngold; metal
Sound part声符shēngfú
liánlián
Same sound today

The traditional form 鐮 pairs 金 (metal) with 廉 to show the pronunciation; the simplified 镰 is a later shorthand, and its right side is not 廉.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.