练 (liàn) is a Chinese character meaning “to practice”. It is written from 纟 (silk; thread (left-side form)) and 东 (east), side by side, and takes 8 strokes.
Build the character for “to practice”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
纟 + 东
Left–right structure
Structure from: 现代字形拆分，经 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（纟 3 画 + 东 5 画 = 8 画；笔画 0–2 为绞丝旁）
Memory aid
Silk thread (纟) is boiled and worked over again and again until it turns soft and white. Start when the sun comes up in the east (东) and keep at it — that is what practice means.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
8 strokes
In real words
- 练习liàn xíto practice; exercise (drill)练 = liànHSK 3
- 训练xùn liànto train; training练 = liàn
Go deeper
All readings
to practice
to practice; to drill; to train; experienced, seasoned
反复做某事使熟悉、熟练；也指经验丰富、老练。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 练习liàn xíto practice; exercise (drill)练 = liànHSK 3
- 训练xùn liànto train; training练 = liàn
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 练 mean?
练 (liàn) means to practice; to drill; to train; experienced, seasoned.
How do you pronounce 练?
It is pronounced liàn.
What parts is 练 made of?
纟 (silk; thread (left-side form)) and 东 (east), side by side. The recorded source is: 现代字形拆分，经 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（纟 3 画 + 东 5 画 = 8 画；笔画 0–2 为绞丝旁）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 练 have?
8. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 练?
纟. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 练?
Common ones are 练习 and 训练. The reading of 练 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.