Pinyin "lian4"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "lian4" is split up into two parts: "li" and "an4". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "li"

Li is for Li Qingzhao, writer and poet of the Song Dynasty.

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "an4"

In the anthill's bathroom.

Characters pronounced lian4

练

練

liàn = li + an4

to practice / to train / to drill / to perfect (one's skill) / exercise / (literary) white silk / to boil and scour raw silk

练 = 纟 + 一 + 东 : Li Qingzhao (li) and the silk worm (纟) are working out (练) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). They set up an Oriental Pearl Tower (东) to which they attached a huge flute (一) as horizontal beam, so that they can practice (练) pull-ups.

炼

煉

liàn = li + an4

to refine / to smelt

炼 = 火 + 一 + 东 : Li Qingzhao (li) is smelting (炼) the Pudong Oriental Pearl Tower (东) in the anthill's bathroom (an4) to make a pendant out of it. She put the tower on a big fire (火) and blows air into the fire using a flute (一).

炼

鍊

liàn = li + an4

variant of 鏈|链[lian4], chain / variant of 煉|炼[lian4]

恋

戀

liàn = li + an4

to feel attached to / to long for / to love

恋 = 亦 + 心 : Li Qingzhao (li) waited for the also-run (亦) to arrive in the anthill's bathroom (an4) to give her her heart (心). Qingzhao is deeply in love (恋) with the also-run.

链

鏈

liàn = li + an4

chain / cable (unit of length: 100 fathoms, about 185 m) / chain (unit of length: 66 feet, about 20 m) / to chain / to enchain

链 = 连 + 钅 : Li Qingzhao (li) has been kidnapped and chained down (连) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). Luckily she has a tiny golden harpoon (钅) as a necklace (链) around her neck which she is able to pick up with her mouth, and with which she is able to pick the lock.

敛

斂

liàn = li + an4

variant of 殮|殓[lian4]

楝

liàn = li + an4

Melia japonica

錬

liàn = li + an4

Japanese variant of 煉|炼[lian4]

殓

殮