懂中文 Dong Chinese

練

liàn

practice

Original meaning: 

boil and scour raw silk

Phonosemantic compound. 糹 represents the meaning and 柬 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "boil and scour raw silk" to make it softer and whiter. The meaning later shifted to "to make perfect" and "to practice".

Components
糹 meaning component

糹  Meaning component

sī, mì

  

silk

糹 is a component form of 糸.

柬 sound component

柬  Sound component

jiǎn

  

letter

Evolution

練 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
練 Clerical script Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Clerical script

Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
練 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

练 (練) 

liàn

practice, drill, exercise, train; to practice; to train; to drill; to perfect (one's skill); exercise

Most common words with 練
Freq.
Word
Meaning

训练

to train

教练

instructor

练

to train

练习

to practice

排练

to rehearse