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嚀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
níngto enjoin, to instruct; to chargex, 17 strokes, radical 口, Very Hard
níng(ning2) T2
  1. 1to enjoin, to instruct; to charge
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March 24, 2026
níng(ning2)

The character 嚀 (níng) means to enjoin or instruct someone, often in the context of giving a command or charge. It implies a sense of authority and responsibility in the instruction being given. Commonly used in formal contexts, it can convey a serious tone when issuing directives.

Strokes17RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the act of giving instructions or commands often reflects the hierarchical nature of relationships, such as that between a teacher and student or a leader and their followers. This character embodies that cultural nuance of respect and authority.

Memory Tip

Imagine a teacher (the radical '口' for mouth) instructing students in a very serious and commanding voice. The sound 'níng' can remind you of 'ringing' in your ears when someone insists on giving you instructions, making it easier to remember the character’s meaning.

Meanings of 嚀

níng(ning2)
1to enjoin, to instruct; to charge
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 嚀

Simplified
17Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嚀

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AI Study Notes for 嚀

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a teacher (the radical '口' for mouth) instructing students in a very serious and commanding voice. The sound 'níng' can remind you of 'ringing' in your ears when someone insists on giving you instructions, making it easier to remember the character’s meaning.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 嚀 is a formal term and may not be used in casual conversation. It's commonly paired with terms related to orders or responsibilities, such as '命令' (mìnglìng, order) or '责任' (zérèn, responsibility). Ensure to practice the correct tone to avoid misunderstanding, as 'níng' is a level 2 tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 嚀 is not included in the official HSK levels, it shares context with words related to authority and instruction, which are often found in HSK Level 4 and above. Focus on using it in sentences that convey clear commands or formal instructions to strengthen your understanding.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the act of giving instructions or commands often reflects the hierarchical nature of relationships, such as that between a teacher and student or a leader and their followers. This character embodies that cultural nuance of respect and authority.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嚀 with similar characters like '宁' (níng, peaceful) due to their phonetic similarity. Remember to associate 嚀 with authority and instruction, while '宁' relates to tranquility.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嚀

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Etymology of 嚀

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 嚀?

Decomposition of 嚀

IDS Structure⿰口寧
Full Character
=
kou3
left
ning2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 嚀?

Write 嚀

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 嚀

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, the act of giving instructions or commands often reflects the hierarchical nature of relationships, such as that between a teacher and student or a leader and their followers. This character embodies that cultural nuance of respect and authority.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the act of instructing may often be more collaborative, whereas in Chinese culture, it tends to be more hierarchical and directive, as represented by 嚀.

Word Family of 嚀

Words Containing This Character2
叮咛to warn叮嚀
níngto enjoin
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 叮咛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 嚀

It is pronounced as 'níng' with a rising tone, which is the second tone in Mandarin.