戀 (liàn) - To love & to be in love with

戀Tone 4

liàn ｜ 23 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

戀 · liàn

To love;

to be in love with;

to feel attached to;

to long for;

to be reluctant to part with.

To loveto be in love withto feel attached to

Usage highlights

To be in loveFirst loveSecret loveTo be infatuated withLove affairNostalgia

Synonyms

  • 爱— to love; affection
  • 慕— to admire; to yearn for
  • 思— to think of; to miss

Antonyms

  • 恨— to hate
  • 厌— to detest; to dislike
  • 弃— to abandon; to discard

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They are deeply in love (恋爱).
  • I miss my hometown (恋乡).
  • She is reluctant to part with her old school (恋校).
  • First love is unforgettable (初恋).

Collocations

  • To be in love(恋爱)
  • First love(初恋)
  • Secret love(暗恋)
  • To be infatuated with(迷恋)
  • Love affair(恋情)
  • Nostalgia(恋旧)

Idioms

  • To be infatuated with wealth and afraid of death(恋财怕死)
  • To be reluctant to part with old ways(恋旧厌新)
  • To be unable to forget old love(恋旧难舍)
  • To be infatuated with wine and women(恋酒迷花)
  • To be unwilling to leave a beautiful scene(恋恋不舍)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 戀 contains the heart radical (心), indicating its deep connection to emotions and feelings.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, romantic love was often expressed indirectly through poetry and literature.
  • The concept of 'lian' encompasses not just romantic love but also attachment to places, memories, and the past.

FAQ