鏈 / 链
liàn
The English word 'chain' is translated into Chinese as 鏈 / 链 (liàn). If unsure, use 鏈 / 链. Wiktionary also lists 鏈子 / 链子 (liànzi) and 鏈條 / 链条 (liàntiáo).
Meaning: series of interconnected rings or links (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 鏈 / 链 | liàn |
| 鏈子 / 链子 | liànzi |
| 鏈條 / 链条 | liàntiáo |
The term refers to a series of interconnected rings or links.
Which one should you use?
The single syllable 鏈 / 链 (liàn) is the base form, while 鏈子 / 链子 (liànzi) and 鏈條 / 链条 (liàntiáo) are also used to refer to a chain.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the colloquial form 鏈子 / 链子 (liànzi), the suffix 子 (zi) is a noun-forming suffix that is very common in spoken Chinese for many everyday objects.
How do you pronounce it?
liàn
Did you know?
- In Chinese, a 'chain store' or 'chain restaurant' is called 连锁店, using the word 锁 meaning 'lock' rather than 鏈.
- The character for 'chain' is a phono-semantic compound, combining the meaning of 'metal' with the sound of 連, which means 'to connect' or 'link'.
- While 鏈子 refers to a physical chain, the term 鏈接 is the standard word for a digital 'hyperlink' on the internet.
Examples in context
- 请检查一下这条链条是否完整。Please check if this chain is complete.
- 他戴着一个金色的链子。He is wearing a gold chain.
- 我需要买一个新的鍊子。I need to buy a new chain.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chain” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 鏈, CC BY-SA 4.0.
