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寧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
寧
níng
calm, peaceful; healthy; rather; to prefer
zg, 14 strokes, radical 宀
níng(ning2)ning T2
1calm, peaceful; healthy; rather; to prefer
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March 24, 2026
寧níng(ning2)
The character 寧 (níng) conveys a sense of calmness and peace, often used in contexts that emphasize tranquility or preference. It can express a preference for one thing over another, suggesting a sense of choice or favoring a peaceful state. This character is commonly used in both written and spoken Chinese to denote serenity or a favorable inclination.
Strokes14Radical宀
Cultural note
The concept of peace and tranquility is central to Chinese philosophy, especially in Daoism, where living harmoniously with nature is emphasized. 寧 reflects this cultural value, often appearing in poetry and literature that celebrates serene landscapes.
Memory tip
Imagine a serene valley (寧) with a calm river flowing through it, representing peace. The left part (宀) looks like a roof, suggesting a peaceful home, while the right part (寧) resembles a person who is at peace, embodying calmness. Picture saying ‘宁愿’ (prefer) to remind you of focusing on what brings tranquility.
Meanings of 寧
níng(ning2)
1calm, peaceful; healthy; rather; to prefer
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 寧
寧Simplified
14Strokes
宀Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 寧
Podcast: 寧
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AI Study Notes for 寧
Quick Contrast
宁 (níng) vs 宁愿 (nìngyuàn) — use 宁 when expressing a state of calmness or preference, while 宁愿 emphasizes a willingness to choose one option over another.
Usage Notes
寧 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it may come across as more literary or poetic. Common phrases include '宁静' (níngjìng - tranquil) and '宁愿' (níngyuàn - would rather). Be careful with the fourth tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although not in the official HSK lists, 寧 is useful for learners at HSK Level 4 and above due to its appearance in more complex texts. Focus on its use in phrases that express preference, which will help expand your vocabulary and understanding of nuanced expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 寧 with similar-sounding characters like 宁 (níng) and 忍 (rěn). For example, saying '我忍静' instead of '我宁静' (I am calm) is incorrect; the correct phrase emphasizes preference for tranquility.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 寧
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Simplified form of 寧. Phonosemantic compound. 丁 represents the sound and the other components represent the meaning. The traditional component 心 was removed for simplification. The traditional component 皿 was removed for simplification.
寧 = 心 + 丁. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 寧
IDS Structure⿱宀⿱心⿱皿丁
寧Full character
=
宀gai4
top
心xin1
top
皿min3
top
丁Ding1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3
Parts
Which of these is part of 寧?
How to say calm, peaceful; healthy; rather; to prefer in Chinese
“calm, peaceful; healthy; rather; to prefer” in Chinese is寧níng
The character 寧 (níng) conveys a sense of calmness and peace, often used in contexts that emphasize tranquility or preference. It can express a preference for one thing over another, suggesting a sense of choice or favoring a peaceful state. This character is commonly used in both written and spoken Chinese to denote serenity or a favorable inclination.
When to use 寧
寧 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it may come across as more literary or poetic. Common phrases include '宁静' (níngjìng - tranquil) and '宁愿' (níngyuàn - would rather). Be careful with the fourth tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
寧 or something close to it
宁 (níng) vs 宁愿 (nìngyuàn) — use 宁 when expressing a state of calmness or preference, while 宁愿 emphasizes a willingness to choose one option over another.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 寧 with similar-sounding characters like 宁 (níng) and 忍 (rěn). For example, saying '我忍静' instead of '我宁静' (I am calm) is incorrect; the correct phrase emphasizes preference for tranquility.
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寧
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Word Family of 寧
Words containing this character20
宁愿nìngyuànbetter寧願
宁níngto prefer寧
宁可nìngkěpreferably寧可
宁静níngjìngtranquil寧靜
安宁ānníngpeaceful安寧
辽宁Liaoning province in northeast China, short name 遼|辽[Liáo], capital Shenyang 瀋陽|沈阳[Shěnyáng]遼寧
宁波Ningbo subprovincial city in Zhejiang寧波
南宁Nanning prefecture level city and capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in south China 廣西壯族自治區|广西壮族自治区南寧
列宁Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924), Russian revolutionary leader列寧
宁夏Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, abbr. 寧|宁[Níng], capital Yinchuan 銀川|银川[Yínchuān]寧夏
辽宁省Liaoning province in northeast China, short name 遼|辽[Liáo], capital Shenyang 瀋陽|沈阳[Shěnyáng]遼寧省
心神不宁to feel ill at ease心神不寧
海宁Haining county level city in Jiaxing 嘉興|嘉兴[Jiāxīng], Zhejiang海寧
南宁市Nanning prefecture level city and capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region 廣西壯族自治區|广西壮族自治区[GuǎngxīZhuàngzúZìzhìqū] in south China南寧市
李宁Li Ning (1963-), PRC gymnast, winner of three gold medals at Los Angeles 1984 Olympic games李寧
西宁Xining prefecture level city and capital of Qinghai province 青海省[Qīnghǎishěng] in west China西寧
宁波市Ningbo subprovincial city in Zhejiang寧波市
张怡宁Zhang Yining (1981-), PRC female table tennis player and Olympic gold medalist張怡寧
唐宁街Downing Street (London)唐寧街
江宁Jiangning district of Nanjing City 南京市 in Jiangsu 江蘇|江苏江寧
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 寧
What does 宁愿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 寧
You can use 寧 in phrases like '我宁愿待在家里' (wǒ níngyuàn dāi zài jiālǐ - I would rather stay at home) to express preference.
Yes, while it can be more literary, phrases like '宁静' (níngjìng) are commonly used to describe peaceful settings.
寧 emphasizes preference or a state of calm, while 安 (ān) primarily means safety or security.
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