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March 24, 2026
凝níng(ning2)
The character '凝' (níng) primarily means to congeal or coagulate, often used in contexts involving liquids that solidify or become more concentrated. Additionally, it can refer to the act of concentrating one’s attention or staring intently at something, signaling a focus on the subject matter or the emotional state involved.
Strokes16Radical冫Frequency#11144DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the term '凝' can refer to the process of making gelatinous dishes, illustrating the importance of texture in culinary traditions. This character reflects the cultural appreciation for the transformation of ingredients.
Memory Tip
Imagine a thick, gooey substance that '凝' (níng) slowly congeals over time, much like how one might stare at something with intense focus. The top part of the character resembles a droplet, while the bottom suggests a solid form, emphasizing the transition from liquid to solid.
Meanings of 凝
níng(ning2)
1to congeal
2to concentrate attention
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 凝
凝Simplified
16Strokes
冫Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#11144Frequency Rank
Podcast: 凝
Podcast: 凝
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AI Study Notes for 凝
Quick Contrast
凝 (níng) vs 凝聚 (níngjù) — use 凝 for the act of congealing or focusing, while 凝聚 specifically refers to the process of gathering or clustering together.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse '凝' with similar characters that can imply different actions, such as '凝视' (níngshì) which specifically means to stare. This character is more formal and often used in literary contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation unless appropriate.
HSK Study Tips
While '凝' is not on the HSK list, it connects to other characters related to concentration and states of matter. Focus on understanding its usage in contexts of both physical and mental concentration, as well as its collocations like '凝固' (nínggù), meaning to solidify.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse '凝' by confusing it with less formal terms for 'to stare,' such as '看' (kàn). For example, saying '我凝他' (Wǒ níng tā) is incorrect; instead, use '我看着他' (Wǒ kànzhe tā) for 'I am looking at him.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 凝
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Drill the tone of 凝 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 冫 represents the meaning and 疑 represents the sound.
1The meaning half冫 carries the sense.
2The sound half疑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayice
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 凝? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 凝?
Decomposition of 凝
IDS Structure⿰冫疑
凝Full Character
=
冫bing1
left
疑yi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 凝?
How to say to congeal in Chinese
“to congeal” in Chinese is凝níng
The character '凝' (níng) primarily means to congeal or coagulate, often used in contexts involving liquids that solidify or become more concentrated. Additionally, it can refer to the act of concentrating one’s attention or staring intently at something, signaling a focus on the subject matter or the emotional state involved.
When to use 凝
Be careful not to confuse '凝' with similar characters that can imply different actions, such as '凝视' (níngshì) which specifically means to stare. This character is more formal and often used in literary contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation unless appropriate.
凝 or something close to it
凝 (níng) vs 凝聚 (níngjù) — use 凝 for the act of congealing or focusing, while 凝聚 specifically refers to the process of gathering or clustering together.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse '凝' by confusing it with less formal terms for 'to stare,' such as '看' (kàn). For example, saying '我凝他' (Wǒ níng tā) is incorrect; instead, use '我看着他' (Wǒ kànzhe tā) for 'I am looking at him.'
Write 凝
凝
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Practice writing 凝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 凝
凝 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这位大人____视的目光离开火苗，与上校的目光相遇。
The Monsignor turned his gaze from the flames to meet the Colonel's.
杨凝式Yang Ningshi (873-954) calligrapher of 5 dynasties period between Tang and Song楊凝式
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 凝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 凝
'凝' is a general term for congealing or concentrating, while '凝固' specifically refers to the process of solidifying, often used in contexts like cooking.
It is more formal and is typically found in written texts or specific contexts, so using it in casual conversation should be done with care.
You can use it in sentences like '水在冷却时会凝成冰' (Water will congeal into ice when it cools).
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