链 meaning and stroke order
Chain, wire; chains, shackles
How to write 链, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 链
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- chain
- cable (unit of length: 100 fathoms, about 185 m)
- chain (unit of length: 66 feet, about 20 m)
- to chain
- to enchain
How 链 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Metal 钅 that joins 连; 连 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 链
链 is metal 钅 that connects 连 (lián): a chain is just metal links joined one after another. The 连 part also hints at the sound, lián becoming liàn.
链 rarely stands alone in speech. It usually appears in words like 链子 (liànzi), 项链 (xiàngliàn), 拉链 (lāliàn), and the internet word 链接 (liànjiē). Example: 请把链接发给我。(Qǐng bǎ liànjiē fā gěi wǒ.) Please send me the link.
Common mistake: Learners often write 连 (lián, to connect) when they mean 链. Remember that a physical chain or a web link needs the metal radical 钅. Also watch the tone: 链 is fourth tone liàn, while 连 is second tone lián.
Common words with 链
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
链 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 链
How many strokes are in 链?
链 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 链 mean?
链 (liàn) means chain, wire; chains, shackles. A common word with it is 项链 (xiàngliàn), meaning "necklace".
How do you pronounce 链?
链 is pronounced liàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 链?
The radical of 链 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 链 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 链?
The traditional form of 链 is 鏈. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 链 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 链 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 链 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 链接 and 连接?
Both are pronounced with similar sounds and both mean to link. 连接 (liánjiē) is the general word for connecting things, like roads or devices. 链接 (liànjiē) is mostly used for hyperlinks and web links.
How do you say blockchain and supply chain in Chinese?
Blockchain is 区块链 (qūkuàiliàn) and supply chain is 供应链 (gōngyìngliàn). In both terms 链 works like the English word chain for a series of connected parts.