HSK 4, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 耳, rank #7099, Hard
lián(lian2) T2
1to ally
2to unite
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March 24, 2026
联(聯)lián(lian2)
The character 联 (lián) means 'to ally' or 'to unite.' It is commonly used in contexts where groups or individuals come together for a common purpose, such as forming alliances or connections. This character also appears in literary contexts, particularly in poetry, where it can refer to paired lines or antithetical couplets.
Strokes12Radical耳Frequency#7099DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of 联 is significant in Chinese political history, especially in the context of various alliances formed during significant historical movements, such as the formation of the United Front during the Chinese Civil War.
Memory Tip
Imagine two people standing side by side, hands joined together in unity. The character 联 has a component '亻' (person) suggesting people, and '连' (to connect) indicating the act of joining. Visualize them forming a strong alliance, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 联
lián(lian2)
1to ally
2to unite
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 联
联Simplified
聯Traditional
12Strokes
耳Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7099Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 联
Podcast: 联
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AI Study Notes for 联
Quick Contrast
联 (lián) vs 结合 (jiéhé) — use 联 when emphasizing the act of uniting or allying, while 结合 focuses more on the act of combining or integrating.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two people standing side by side, hands joined together in unity. The character 联 has a component '亻' (person) suggesting people, and '连' (to connect) indicating the act of joining. Visualize them forming a strong alliance, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
When using 联, be careful with its context—it's often used in formal situations such as alliances in politics or business. Common collocations include 联盟 (liánméng - alliance) and 联合 (liánhé - unite). Remember that it carries a positive connotation of collaboration.
HSK Study Tips
Although 联 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK level 4 words like 合作 (hézuò - to cooperate) and 连接 (liánjiē - to connect). Focus on understanding its use in forming compound words to expand your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
The concept of 联 is significant in Chinese political history, especially in the context of various alliances formed during significant historical movements, such as the formation of the United Front during the Chinese Civil War.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 联 (lián) with 连 (lián), which means 'even' or 'also.' For example, saying '我们联朋友' (wǒmen lián péngyǒu) instead of '我们连朋友' (wǒmen lián péngyǒu) can lead to confusion. Remember that 联 implies collaboration.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 联
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Grammar Patterns of 联
联 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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Cultural Notes for 联
💡Did you know?
'联' is often used in Chinese poetry to describe the connection between two contrasting ideas, exemplifying the beauty of balance and unity in literature.
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of 联 is significant in Chinese political history, especially in the context of various alliances formed during significant historical movements, such as the formation of the United Front during the Chinese Civil War.
Word Family of 联
Words Containing This Character20
联系liánxìconnection聯繫
联邦liánbāngfederal聯邦
联合liánhéto combine聯合
联liánto ally聯
联盟liánméngalliance聯盟
联赛liánsài(sports) league聯賽
联络liánluòto contact聯絡
苏联Soviet Union, 1922-1991蘇聯
联合国liánhéguóUnited Nations聯合國
互联网hùliánwǎngInternet互聯網
关联guānliánrelated關聯
联想liánxiǎngto associate (cognitively)聯想
联通abbr. for 中國聯通|中国联通聯通
联手liánshǒulit. to join hands聯手
联合会federation聯合會
联系人contact (person)聯繫人
联谊会club聯誼會
美联社Associated Press (AP)美聯社
联网liánwǎngnetwork聯網
妇联women's league婦聯
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 联系 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 联
While both 联 (lián) and 结合 (jiéhé) can mean 'to unite,' 联 often implies a more formal alliance or partnership, whereas 结合 refers to a more general joining or combining of things.
You can use 联 (lián) in sentences like '我们需要联手解决这个问题' (We need to unite to solve this problem). This demonstrates its use in the context of collaboration and unity.
联 (lián) means 'to ally,' 'to unite,' or 'to join.' It can also refer to a poetic form known as an antithetical couplet in Chinese poetry, where two lines contrast each other while being complementary.
Some common phrases include 联盟 (liánméng - alliance) and 联合国 (liánhéguó - United Nations).
You can remember it by associating '连' (to connect) with 'lián' since they share similar meanings.
It's more commonly found in formal contexts or written language rather than in casual everyday conversation.
