LIAN-4

('lian' in the fourth tone)

Some 31 standard Chinese characters have a 'lian' pronunciation. Common sound-indicating components are: 连 (7 occurences), 廉 (5)

恋 = (this character / morpheme means 'to love', but it cannot be used alone in this sense, and therefore certainly is no substitute for 爱; it can only be used in two-character words or expressions)

暗恋 = an(4) lian(4) = to love secretely

Sample sentence from a Chinese lifestyle advice site:

19岁我暗恋一位老男人. = Shi(2)jiu(3) sui(4) wo(3) an(4) lian(4) yi(1) wei(4) lao(3) nan(2)ren(2). = At the age of 19, I secretly love an old man.

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恋爱 = lian(4)ai(4) = love relationship, to court, to date

他们两个在恋爱. = Ta(1)men(-) liang(3)ge(4) zai(4) lian(4)ai(4). = These two people have a love relationship (are dating).

我可以和你恋爱吗? = Wo(3) ke(3)yi(3) he(2) ni(3) lian(4)ai(4)ma(-) Can I have a love relationship with you (date you)?

An alternative, less direct, expression for 恋爱 is:

约会 = yue(1)hui(4) = to date, to have a meeting (not necessarily love-base)

我可以和你约会吗? = Wo(3) ke(3)yi(3) he(2) ni(3) yue(1)hui(4) ma(-)? = Can I have a meeting (date) with you?

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同性恋 = tong(2)xing(4)lian(4) = homosexuality

男同性恋 = nan(2) tong(2)xing(4)lian(4) = homosexual man

女同性恋 = nv(3) tong(2)xing(4)lian(4) = homosexual woman