連 meaning and stroke order
To join, to connect; continuous; even
How to write 連, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Meaning of 連
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to link
- to join
- to connect
- continuously
- in succession
- including
How 連 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A cart 車 moving 辶 goods between cities.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 連
連 shows a cart 車 on the move 辶. Picture carts rolling one after another down a road, carrying goods between cities and linking them together.
連 (lián) means to join or connect, and also describes things happening in a row, as in 连续 (liánxù) and 接连 (jiēlián). It also appears in the pattern 連...都/也 meaning "even": 他連水都沒喝。(Tā lián shuǐ dōu méi hē.) He didn't even drink water.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 連 (lián) with 運 (yùn, to transport), which has 軍 inside 辶 instead of 車. In the "even" pattern, learners also forget the 都 or 也 that must follow, writing 他連水沒喝 instead of 他連水都沒喝.
Common words with 連
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 連續 | liánxù | continuous; in a row | HSK 3 |
| 連續劇 | liánxùjù | TV series | HSK 3 |
| 連忙 | liánmáng | promptly; at once | HSK 3 |
| 連接 | liánjiē | to link; to join; to connect | HSK 5 |
| 接連 | jiēlián | on end; in a row | HSK 5 |
| 相連 | xiānglián | to link; to join | HSK 7-9 |
| 一連串 | yīliánchuàn | a succession of; a series of | HSK 7-9 |
| 連鎖 | liánsuǒ | to interlock; to be linked | HSK 7-9 |
| 連任 | liánrèn | to continue in (a political) office; to serve for another term of office | HSK 7-9 |
| 連鎖店 | liánsuǒdiàn | chain store | HSK 7-9 |
| 連夜 | liányè | that very night; through the night | HSK 7-9 |
| 一連 | yīlián | in a row; in succession | HSK 7-9 |
| 接二連三 | jiē'èr-liánsān | (idiom) one after another; in quick succession | HSK 7-9 |
| 連綿 | liánmián | continuous; unbroken | HSK 7-9 |
Characters that contain 連
Learning 連 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 連
How many strokes are in 連?
連 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 連 mean?
連 (lián) means to join, to connect; continuous; even. A common word with it is 连续 (liánxù), meaning "continuous; in a row".
How do you pronounce 連?
連 is pronounced lián, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 連?
The radical of 連 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 連 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 連?
連 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 连, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 連 and 联 (lián)?
Both are pronounced lián and relate to connecting, but 联 is used for alliances and associations, as in 联系 (liánxì, to contact) and 联合 (liánhé, to unite). 連 is more about physical joining or things in succession, as in 连接 (liánjiē) and 连续 (liánxù).
Can 連 mean "including"?
Yes. For example, 連我一共五個人 (lián wǒ yīgòng wǔ gè rén) means "five people in total, including me." Here 連 counts something in along with the rest.