斂 (liǎn) - To gather & to collect

斂Tone 3

liǎn ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

斂 · liǎn

To gather;

to collect;

to restrain;

to hold back;

to contract;

to reduce;

to economize.

To gatherto collectto restrain

Usage highlights

To collect taxesTo amass wealthTo restrain oneselfTo contract musclesTo gather crowdsTo economize spending

Synonyms

  • 收— to collect; to gather
  • 集— to gather; to assemble
  • 聚— to gather; to congregate
  • 節— to economize; to save

Antonyms

  • 散— to scatter; to disperse
  • 放— to release; to let go
  • 擴— to expand; to enlarge
  • 揮— to spend lavishly; to squander

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The government collects taxes (收斂).
  • She tried to restrain her anger (斂怒).
  • The company needs to reduce expenses (斂財).
  • The wound is healing and contracting (收斂傷口).

Collocations

  • To collect taxes(斂稅)
  • To amass wealth(斂財)
  • To restrain oneself(自斂)
  • To contract muscles(斂肌)
  • To gather crowds(斂眾)
  • To economize spending(斂費)

Idioms

  • To draw in one's claws and hide one's tracks(斂爪藏蹤)
  • To restrain one's arrogance and hide one's capabilities(斂銳藏鋒)
  • To collect bones and bury them(斂骨埋屍)
  • To restrain anger and show respect(斂怒示敬)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, '敛' reflects values of moderation, restraint, and proper management of resources.
  • The character appears in historical texts about taxation and governance, showing its administrative significance.
  • In martial arts and strategy, '敛' represents the concept of concealing one's strength and waiting for the right moment.

FAQ