Definitions

liàn (verb) to love; to be romantically attached to
liàn (verb) to long for; to yearn for

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional character "戀" is composed of the components "言" representing speech, "絲" representing silk, and "心" representing heart, with its structure etymologically implying intertwined thoughts and emotions emanating from the heart, originally conveying a sense of attachment or earnest longing. Its simplified form "恋" maintains the "心" component but replaces the upper complex part with "亦", resulting in a structural change that modifies the character while keeping the heart-related semantic core. Over centuries, the meaning of the character narrowed from denoting general affection or desire to specifically indicating romantic love or passionate affection.

Etymology Hide

Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢爱。

Wǒ xǐhuān liàn'ài.

I like being in love.

他暗着她。

Tā ànliàn zhe tā.

He is secretly in love with her.

我刚刚失

Wǒ gānggāng shīliàn.

I just broke up.

她非常家。

Tā fēicháng liànjiā.

She is very homesick.

他们爱三年了。

Tāmen liàn'ài sān nián le.

They have been in love for three years.

我对故乡充满留

Wǒ duì gùxiāng chōngmǎn liúliàn.

I am full of nostalgia for my hometown.

是一种甜蜜的痛苦。

Ànliàn shì yī zhǒng tiánmì de tòngkǔ.

Secret love is a sweet pain.

即使失了,也要相信爱情。

Jíshǐ shīliàn le, yě yào xiāngxìn àiqíng.

Even if you break up, you should still believe in love.