聯
party, gang, clique
Readings
On'yomi
- レン
Kun'yomi
- つら.なる
- つら.ねる
Meaning
聯 centers on a group of people linked together: a party, gang, or clique. The idea is a connected, often informal, association.
Most common words using 聯
- 朝鮮総聯ちょうせんそうれん
General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (abbr.); Chongryon
- 対聯ついれん
couplet (Chinese poetry)
- 竹聯幇ちくれんほう
United Bamboo Gang (Taiwanese crime syndicate)
- 聯合ニュースレンゴウニュース
Yonhap News (South Korean media company)
- 聯合報れんごうほう
United Daily News (Taiwanese newspaper)
- 聯合通信れんごうつうしん
Yon Hap News Agency
- 聯想集団れんそうしゅうだん
Lenovo
- 銀聯ぎんれん
UnionPay (China)
Study
Etymology
聯 combines 耳 (ear) with a phonetic component that also suggests linking or connecting. The exact historical development of the right side is uncertain, but the character is associated with joining or linking, which extended to groups of people.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is an ear 耳, and the right side looks like a tangle of threads or connections. Imagine a group of people linked together like a chain, whispering secrets ear to ear—that's a clique or gang.
Reading mnemonic
For レン, picture a gang of friends all named Len: Len -> レン, and they form a tight-knit party.