How to Write 廉 (lián) — Meaning “inexpensive or honest”

Picture a small shop under a roof (广) where the owner holds two items (兼) and sells them cheaply because he is honest. The image of a "double" fair deal helps link the shape to both "inexpensive" and "honest." This visual trick makes 廉 easy to recall.

Start with the radical 广: write the dot first, then the horizontal line, then the left-falling stroke. Next write the lower part 兼, making sure the two vertical strokes inside are parallel and evenly spaced. A common mistake is rushing the 兼 strokes, so take care to keep the character balanced and not too narrow.

廉 (lián) has 兼 under 广 and means cheap or honest, while 庳 (bì) has 卑 (low) under 广 and means low in height. 庵 (ān) has 奄 (cover) under 广 and refers to a small hut or nunnery. Visually, 廉 has more strokes and a complex lower part, whereas 庳 and 庵 are simpler and have different meanings.

廉 appears in common words like 廉价 (lián jià, low price) and 廉洁 (lián jié, incorruptible). In Chinese culture, 廉洁 is a highly respected quality, especially for government officials, symbolizing honesty and fairness. The character is often used in moral teachings and official contexts to praise upright behavior.

Common words containing 廉 include: 廉价 (lián jià) — cheap or low-priced; 廉洁 (lián jié) — incorruptible or honest; 清廉 (qīng lián) — honest and upright; incorruptible.