练

• Pinyin: liàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 练 = 纟(silk radical) + 柬 (to select, phonetic)

Meaning

To practice; to train; to drill. To repeatedly do something in order to improve a skill.

Used for practicing any skill — sports, music, language, calligraphy, etc. Often appears with a specific skill as its object. Can also be used in the compound 练习 (practice, exercise).

Examples

1. 我每天练半个小时的钢琴。 I practice piano for half an hour every day.
2. 他在练写汉字。 He is practicing writing Chinese characters.
3. 多练几次就会了。 Practice a few more times and you'll get it.

Usage Guide

Context: learning, sports, music

Tone: encouraging

Do Say

• 你要多练练。(You should practice more.)
• 我在练开车。(I'm practicing driving.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'练题' (When talking about doing practice problems, say 做练习题 or 做题, not 练题 — the full form is standard)

Origin & History

Originally meant to process raw silk (练 = 纟 silk + 柬 to select). Extended metaphorically to mean refining or practicing a skill through repetition.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal