Chinese word

连绵

Pronunciation

Pinyinlián mián

Meaning

  • adjectivecontinuous

Example

最近一直连绵下雨，心情不好。zuì jìn yì zhí lián mián xià yǔ xīn qíng bù hǎo

It has been raining continuously lately, so I am in a bad mood.

Illustration for 连绵 (continuous)

More examples

战事连绵多年，民不聊生。zhàn shì lián mián duō nián mín bù liáo shēng

The fighting continued for years, and the people could not make a living.

Core concept

Separate moments or shapes flow into one long, connected stretch that seems to have no clear edge.

Common phrases

  • 连绵不断lián mián bú duàn

    uninterrupted

  • 阴雨连绵yīn yǔ lián mián

    persistent rain

  • 连绵起伏lián mián qǐ fú

    rolling

Similar words

连续lián xù: Describes events or actions that follow one another without a gap.
不断bú duàn: Describes repeated events or actions that do not stop.
持续chí xù: Describes a condition or process that remains in progress over time.
绵延mián yán: Describes a continuous stretch that reaches far or seems to have no end.

Definition in Chinese

表示事物像一条绵带那样在空间或时间上相互连接、持续不绝，语感上常带有沉重或绵长的意味。biǎo shì shì wù xiàng yì tiáo mián dài nà yàng zài kōng jiān huò shí jiān shàng xiàng hù lián jiē chí xù bù jué yú gǎn shàng cháng dài yǒu chén zhòng huò mián zhǎng de yì wèi

Word origin

连绵 (liánmián, "continuous") combines 连 (lián, "join or continue") with 绵 (mián, "soft like cotton"), turning the idea of connection into a long, pliant strand.

Usage tips

  • It fits prolonged conditions such as rainy weather, mountain ranges, or a lingering mood, but it is less natural for one short action or a series of clearly separate events.

Opposites

Related words

  • 连绵不断lián mián bú duàncontinue without interruptionidiom
  • 连绵不绝lián mián bù juécontinue endlesslyidiom

Word lists with this word