练 Stroke Order — How to Write 练
练 is written in 8 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 纟, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
练 Radical and Character Components
练 is a phono-semantic compound: 纟 (thread) carries the meaning, while 柬 indicates the sound.
Radical: 纟 + 5 more strokes
练 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- liàn
Meanings of 练 in Chinese
1
liàn练
White silk; often used to describe something long, smooth, and white, like a river surface or a waterfall.
远处的瀑布倾泻而下，白练一般悬挂在山间。
The distant waterfall cascades down, hanging like a white silk ribbon in the mountains.
To boil raw silk, hemp, or fabric to make it soft and white, typically for scouring and bleaching.
这家纺织厂正在练漂一批新布料。
This textile factory is scouring and bleaching a batch of new fabric.
To practice, train, or exercise repeatedly to improve a skill.
为了提高口语，他每天都坚持练习发音。
To improve his spoken language, he insists on practicing pronunciation every day.
To be experienced or proficient, often referring to a skill or a person's demeanor, such as being seasoned, skilled, or capable.
他的工作能力非常干练。
His work ability is very capable and efficient.
Common Words and Phrases with 练
1
To practice writing or calligraphy; to hone one's writing skills.
他每天都坚持练笔，希望能提高写作水平。
He insists on practicing his writing skills every day, hoping to improve his writing level.
2
To train and drill soldiers, often in preparation for battle.
为了在比赛中取得好成绩，教练员经常组织队员进行高强度练兵，提高他们的技能和体能。
To achieve good results in competitions, coaches often organize high-intensity training sessions for their team members to improve their skills and physical fitness.
3
To drill; to engage in military or physical exercises involving formation training and synchronized movements like standing, turning, and marching.
体育课上，老师带领大家练操，提高身体协调性。
During PE class, the teacher led everyone in practicing drills to improve their physical coordination.
4
Experienced and worldly-wise; sagacious and sophisticated.
他为人练达，总是能巧妙地处理各种复杂事务。
He is experienced and astute, always able to skillfully handle various complex matters.
5
Experienced and sophisticated, with a deep understanding of human nature and worldly affairs.
他是一位练达老成的经理，总能妥善处理各种复杂的局面。
He is an experienced and mature manager, always able to properly handle various complex situations.
6
To drill in formation, often for a parade or specific purpose.
为了在比赛中表现出色，合唱团成员每天都会认真练队。
To perform well in the competition, the choir members diligently drill every day.
7
Practice one's skills, especially in martial arts or other disciplines.
为了在比赛中取得好成绩，她每天都会花很长时间练功。
To achieve good results in the competition, she spends a lot of time practicing her skills every day.
8
to practice vocal exercises
每天早上，歌手都会花时间练声，以确保她的嗓音处于最佳状态。
Every morning, the singer spends time doing vocal exercises to ensure her voice is in top condition.
9
to practice martial arts or combat skills
他从小就喜欢练武，梦想成为一名武术家。
He has loved practicing martial arts since childhood, dreaming of becoming a martial artist.
10
Practice or exercise to acquire skills or proficiency.
她每天花两个小时练习钢琴，以提高她的演奏技巧
She spends two hours practicing piano every day to improve her playing skills.
More words with 练
- shú熟liàn练proficient, skilled
- cāo操liàn练to drill; to practice; to train
- yǎn演liàn练A drill, exercise, or practice.
- cǎi彩liàn练A colorful ribbon or streamer.
- mó磨liàn练temper, hone
- pǐ匹liàn练bolt of white silk, streak of white
- tuán团liàn练local militia, tuanlian
- níng凝liàn练Concise and condensed
- xùn训liàn练Training
- zhǔ煮liàn练scouring, boiling-out
- wěn稳liàn练steady and skillful
- jiào教liàn练coach, instructor
- kǔ苦liàn练practice hard, train rigorously
- pái排liàn练rehearse, rehearsal
- bái白liàn练white silk, white satin
- chén晨liàn练morning exercises, morning workout
- gàn干liàn练Capable and efficient, Competent
- jiǎn简liàn练concise, terse
- liàn练jiù就acquire, develop
- lǎo老liàn练experienced, seasoned
Idioms with 练
- liàn练bīng兵mò秣mǎ马prepare for battle
- bǎo饱liàn练shì世gù故worldly-wise and sophisticated
- guāng光shuō说bù不liàn练all talk and no action
- lǎo老chéng成lì历liàn练experienced and seasoned
- qín勤xué学kǔ苦liàn练diligent study and painstaking practice
- xùn训liàn练yǒu有sù素well-trained and disciplined
- jiǎn简liàn练chuǎi揣mó摩diligently study and refine a skill
- lǎo老chéng成liàn练dá达worldly-wise and seasoned
- lì历liàn练lǎo老chéng成experienced and mature
- tōng通dá达ān谙liàn练perceptive and experienced
- cái材shì士liàn练bīng兵brave and expert soldiers
- chéng澄jiāng江rú如liàn练clear river like a white silk ribbon
Recommended tools
Character Highlight Animator
Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
Open the tool →
Chinese Text Image Generator
Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
Open the tool →
Picture Worksheets
Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets
Open the tool →
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →Questions about 练
What does 练 mean in Chinese?
练 (liàn) means “White silk” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 练?
练 is pronounced liàn in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 练 have?
练 has 8 strokes.
How do you write 练?
练 is written in 8 strokes, starting from the radical 纟. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 练?
The radical of 练 is 纟, and 练 is a phono-semantic compound.