莲

蓮

lián

艹 + 连

Definitions

lián (noun) lotus

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 连 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蓮.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 连

About

The character 莲, simplified from 蓮, is a phono-semantic compound: the top radical 艹 (cǎo, 'grass') classifies it as a plant, and the bottom component 连 (lián, 'to connect') provides the pronunciation, here, 连 only signals the sound, not the meaning 'connect'. It specifically denotes the lotus, a culturally significant aquatic plant whose blossoms, seeds, and edible rhizomes are all valued. Throughout its history, this structure has precisely represented the lotus without major shifts in meaning or use.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

池塘里开着莲花。

chí táng lǐ kāi zhe lián huā。

Lotus flowers are blooming in the pond.

我喜欢莲花的清香。

wǒ xǐ huān lián huā de qīng xiāng。

I like the faint scent of lotus flowers.

莲蓬里面有许多莲子。

lián péng lǐ miàn yǒu xǔ duō lián zǐ。

There are many lotus seeds inside the lotus seedpod.

夏天是欣赏莲花的好季节。

xià tiān shì xīn shǎng lián huā de hǎo jì jié。

Summer is a good season to appreciate lotus flowers。

妈妈买了一些新鲜的莲藕。

mā mā mǎi le yì xiē xīn xiān de lián ǒu。

Mom bought some fresh lotus roots。

这片湿地是莲花生长的理想环境。

zhè piàn shī dì shì lián huā shēng zhǎng de lǐ xiǎng huán jìng。

This wetland is an ideal environment for lotus growth.

莲的生长离不开淤泥的滋养。

lián de shēng zhǎng lí bù kāi yū ní de zī yǎng。

The growth of lotus cannot be separated from the nourishment of silt.

他的画以莲为主题，象征高洁品格。

tā de huà yǐ lián wéi zhǔ tí，xiàng zhēng gāo jié pǐn gé。

His painting uses the lotus as its theme, symbolizing noble character.

Related Characters

Component: 艹

Component: 连

莲