Chinese word

对联

Pronunciation

Pinyinduì lián

Meaning

  • nounantithetical couplet

Example

门上贴着一副对联。mén shàng tiē zhe yí fù duì lián

An antithetical couplet is posted on the door.

Illustration for 对联 (antithetical couplet)

More examples

春节的时候，家家户户会在门口贴对联。chūn jié de shí hòu jiā jiā hù hù huì zài mén kǒu tiē duì lián

During the Spring Festival, every household posts antithetical couplets at its door.

Core concept

A paired piece of festive writing turns two related lines into a single display for a doorway or wall.

Common phrases

  • 一副对联yí fù duì lián

    one antithetical couplet

  • 贴对联tiē duì lián

    put up an antithetical couplet

  • 春节贴对联chūn jié tiē duì lián

    put up Spring Festival couplets

Similar words

春联chūn lián: A red-paper couplet posted at a doorway during the Spring Festival for luck and celebration.
对子duì zi: A paired couplet whose two lines correspond in form and meaning.
上联shàng lián: The first of the two lines in a couplet, read first.
下联xià lián: The second of the two lines in a couplet, read second.

Definition in Chinese

一种传统的装饰性对句文本，常写在红纸上竖贴于门框或墙侧，内容多为吉祥祝愿或题词，用于节庆和庆典场合。yì zhǒng chuán tǒng de zhuāng shì xìng duì jù wén běn cháng xiě zài hóng zhǐ shàng shù tiē yú mén kuàng huò qiáng cè nèi róng duō wèi jí xiáng zhù yuàn huò tí cí yòng yú jié qìng hé qìng diǎn chǎng hé

Word origin

对 (duì, "matching") + 联 (lián, "linking") describes writing made of two linked lines with parallel structure.

Usage tips

  • The occasion often identifies the wording, since displays for New Year celebrations, weddings, and new businesses use different messages.

Other meanings

  • spring coupletnoun
  • coupletnoun

Word lists with this word