To improve one's character, skills, or physical fitness through practice or experience; often confused with 练 liàn

To heat a substance to remove impurities, extract a component, or strengthen it; to smelt, refine, or temper

To boil down or decoct medicinal herbs or alchemical substances for a long time

To carefully polish or refine writing to make it concise and precise

A Chinese surname

A series of metal links or cable connected together, such as a 铁链 tiě​liàn or 锁链 suǒ​liàn.

to fasten or restrain with a chain; to enchain

a unit of length, either a nautical cable (approx. 185m) or a surveying chain (approx. 20m)