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March 24, 2026
尼ní(ni2)
The character 尼 (ní) primarily refers to a Buddhist nun, a woman who has dedicated her life to religious practice within Buddhism. It is also used in transliterations and phonetic spellings of foreign names or terms in Chinese. The character carries a sense of reverence and dedication to spiritual pursuits.
Strokes5Radical尸Frequency#1067DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, Buddhist nuns have played significant roles in religious communities, often engaging in meditation, teaching, and community service. The presence of nuns in temples highlights the gender dynamics within Buddhism in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a nun (尼) wearing a traditional robe with a serene expression. The character has a 'woman' radical (女) on the left, signifying femininity, and the right side may remind you of someone leaning into prayer. Picture her in a peaceful temple, embodying tranquility.
Meanings of 尼
ní(ni2)
1Buddhist nun; used in transliterations
2(often used in phonetic spellings)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 尼
尼Simplified
5Strokes
尸Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 尼
Podcast: 尼
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AI Study Notes for 尼
Usage Notes
When using 尼, it's important to note that it is predominantly a formal term related to Buddhism, so it might not be suitable in casual conversation. Common collocations include '尼姑' (nígū), meaning 'Buddhist nun'. Be careful not to confuse this with similar-sounding words that have entirely different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
While 尼 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for students interested in religious or cultural contexts. Students should focus on recognizing this character in texts related to Buddhism, as it often appears alongside other religious terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 尼 with similar characters, such as 妇 (fù), which means 'woman' in a broader sense. Remember that 尼 specifically refers to a Buddhist nun, emphasizing a religious context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 尼
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Phonosemantic compound. 尸 represents the meaning and 匕 represents the sound.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 尼? 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 尼?
Decomposition of 尼
IDS Structure⿸尸匕
尼Full Character
=
尸shi1
enclosing
匕bi3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 尼?
How to say Buddhist nun; used in transliterations in Chinese
“Buddhist nun; used in transliterations” in Chinese is尼ní
The character 尼 (ní) primarily refers to a Buddhist nun, a woman who has dedicated her life to religious practice within Buddhism. It is also used in transliterations and phonetic spellings of foreign names or terms in Chinese. The character carries a sense of reverence and dedication to spiritual pursuits.
When to use 尼
When using 尼, it's important to note that it is predominantly a formal term related to Buddhism, so it might not be suitable in casual conversation. Common collocations include '尼姑' (nígū), meaning 'Buddhist nun'. Be careful not to confuse this with similar-sounding words that have entirely different meanings.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 尼 with similar characters, such as 妇 (fù), which means 'woman' in a broader sense. Remember that 尼 specifically refers to a Buddhist nun, emphasizing a religious context.
Write 尼
尼
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Practice writing 尼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 尼
尼 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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
我们从可靠的消息来源获知索____娅非常爱自己的家人。
Sonia, we are reliably informed, loves her family very much.
Example Sentences for 尼 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我们从可靠的消息来源获知索尼娅非常爱自己的家人。
wǒ mén cóng kě kào de xiāo xī lái yuán huò zhī suǒ ní yà fēi cháng ài zì jǐ de jiā rén。
Sonia, we are reliably informed, loves her family very much.
2
托尼微笑着举起杯子。“为你干一杯，埃米。”
tuō ní wēi xiào zháo jǔ qǐ bēi zǐ。“ 。“ wéi nǐ gān yī， bēi ，。”
Tony smiled and lifted his glass. "Here's to you, Amy."
3
肯尼亚的罗伯特·基布是800米决赛入围者中速度最快的选手.
kěn ní yà de luó bó tè· · jī bù800 shì 800 mǐ jué sài rù wéi zhě zhōng sù dù zuì kuài de.
Kenya's Robert Kibe was the fastest qualifier for the 800 metres final.
4
约翰尼和盖伊是英国最了不起的、还未被公众认可的流行歌曲创作者。
yuē hàn ní hé gài yī shì yīng guó zuì le bù qǐ de、 、 huán wèi bèi gōng zhòng rèn kě de liú háng gē qū chuàng zuò。
Johnny and Guy are the greatest unacknowledged pop songwriters in Britain.
5
对于很多加利福尼亚的印第安人而言，猫头鹰是圣物。
duì yú hěn duō jiā lì fú ní yà de yìn dì ān rén ér yán， ， māo tóu yīng shì shèng。
The owl is sacred for many Californian Indian people.
6
爱沙尼亚议会已经通过了宣布共和国完全独立的决议。
ài shā ní yà yì huì yǐ jīng tōng guò le xuān bù gòng hé guó wán quán dú lì de jué yì。
The Estonian parliament has passed a resolution declaring the republic fully independent.
7
15岁的丹尼从地方当局的收容所逃跑了。
15 15 suì de dān ní cóng dì fāng dāng jú de shōu róng suǒ táo pǎo。
Fifteen-year-old Danny is on the run from a local authority home.
