链 (liàn): chain
链 (liàn) is a Chinese character meaning “chain.” Classified as HSK Level 6 (HSK 3.0 Standard, CLEC 2022), it is composed of 钅 (structural) and 连 (structural). It ranks #2063 in character frequency (SUBTLEX-CH corpus).
Etymologically derived, 链 metal 钅 that joins 连; 连 also provides the pronunciation. Its radical form 钅 (metal) appears in many related characters such as 钱 (qián, money), 错 (cuò, wrong, mistake), 钟 (zhōng, clock, bell).
Definitions
- chain
Etymology & Origin
ideographicMetal 钅 that joins 连; 连 also provides the pronunciation
Decomposition: ⿰钅连 (layout: left-right)
Stroke Order
Practice writing 链 with real-time feedback — trace each stroke in the correct order and build muscle memory in the HanziFeed app.
Words & Compounds
HSK Vocabulary with 链
Common Compounds
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 拉链 | lā liàn | zipper |
| 链子 | liàn zi | chain |
| 铁链 | tiě liàn | iron chain |
| 锁链 | suǒ liàn | chains |
| 食物链 | shí wù liàn | food chain |
| 链条 | liàn tiáo | chain |
| 链球菌 | liàn qiú jūn | streptococcus (genus of bacteria) |
| 铰链 | jiǎo liàn | hinge |
| 脚链 | jiǎo liàn | ankle bracelet |
| 防滑链 | fáng huá liàn | snow chain (for a vehicle tire) |
| 数据链路连接标识 | shù jù liàn lù lián jiē biāo zhì | data link connection identifier (DLCI) |
| 外部链接 | wài bù liàn jiē | external link (on a website) |
| 链式反应 | liàn shì fǎn yìng | chain reaction |
| 链式裂变反应 | liàn shì liè biàn fǎn yìng | chain reaction of nuclear fission |
| 生物链 | shēng wù liàn | food chain |
链 appears in 70 compound words: 23 as the first character, 49 as the last, and 29 in a middle position. Compound statistics computed from SUBTLEX-CH and HSK 3.0 vocabulary data.
Strongest Collocations
Characters that most frequently co-occur with 链 in natural Chinese text, ranked by NPMI (Normalized Pointwise Mutual Information) — a statistical measure of association strength.
Idioms & Chengyu (1)
Example Sentences
这条供应链非常稳定，可以确保原材料及时到货。
Zhè tiáo gōngyìngliàn fēicháng wěndìng, kěyǐ quèbǎo yuáncáiliào jíshí dào huò.
This supply chain is very stable and can ensure timely delivery of raw materials.
力积电 变身AI供应链整合者
lì jī diàn biàn shēn gōng yīng liàn zhěng gě zhě
Lijie Electronics Transforms into an AI Supply Chain Integrator
国金证券:国内制药供应链景气度上行持续 建议把握CXO行业两大核...
guó jīn zhèng quàn guó nèi zhì yào gōng yīng liàn jǐng qì dù shàng háng chí xù jiàn yì bǎ wò háng yè liǎng dà hé . . .
GF Securities: Domestic Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Momentum Continues to Improve; Recommend Seizing Two Core Opportunities in the CXO Industry...
...来的长期叙事变化 关注税率下降对A股出口链影响
. . . lái de cháng qī xù shì biàn huà guān zhù shuì lǜ xià jiàng duì gǔ chū kǒu liàn yǐng xiǎng
Long-term narrative shifts emerging Focus on the impact of declining tax rates on A-share export chains
这条项链是我奶奶送给我的。
Zhè tiáo xiàngliàn shì wǒ nǎinai sònggěi wǒ de.
My nan gave me this necklace.
无产者在这个革命中失去的只是锁链。
Wúchǎnzhě zài zhège gémìng zhōng shīqù de zhǐ shì suǒliàn.
The proletarians lose nothing in this revolution but their chains.
他拉开裤子的拉链。
Tā lākāi kùzi de lāliàn.
He unzipped his pants.
在沙发下，汤姆找到了玛丽的项链。
Zài shāfā xià, Tāngmǔ zhǎodào le Mǎlì de xiàngliàn.
Tom found Mary's necklace under the sofa.
我至今还珍惜你十年前给我的项链。
Wǒ zhìjīn hái zhēnxī nǐ shí nián qián gěi wǒ de xiàngliàn.
I still cherish the necklace you gave me ten years ago.
不要点击那个链接。
Bùyào diǎnjī nàge liànjiē.
Don't click on that link.
Character Family
钅 Radical Family — Characters sharing the metal radical
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 链 (liàn) mean in Chinese?
How many strokes does 链 have?
What is the radical of 链?
What are the components of 链?
What are common words containing 链?
What characters sound the same as 链 (liàn)?
Is 链 the same in simplified and traditional Chinese?
Practice writing 链 with real-time feedback
Trace stroke sequences, hear native pronunciation, and build lasting retention with spaced repetition in the HanziFeed app.