unknown, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #10303, Very Hard
碾
niǎn
to grind
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #10303, Very Hard
碾
niǎn
to husk
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #10303, Very Hard
niǎn(nian3) T3
1stone roller; to crush, to roll
2roller and millstone
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
碾niǎn(nian3)
The character 碾 (niǎn) refers to the action of crushing or grinding, typically done using a stone roller or millstone. It is commonly used in agricultural contexts, such as the processing of grains or seeds, where the intention is to break down the materials into smaller, usable forms.
Strokes15Radical石Frequency#10303DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese farming, grinding grains with a stone mill is a common practice that symbolizes hard work and sustenance. The process of using a stone roller reflects the importance of agriculture in Chinese culture, where food preparation is deeply intertwined with daily life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'niǎn' (stone roller) rolling over grains in a field, crushing them into flour. The character's radical '石' (stone) visually represents the heavy stone used in this grinding process, while the phonetic component suggests the sound of grinding as the stones roll.
Meanings of 碾
niǎn(nian3)
1stone roller; to crush, to roll
2roller and millstone
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 碾
碾Simplified
15Strokes
石Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 碾
Podcast: 碾
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 碾
Quick Contrast
碾 (niǎn) vs 磨 (mó) — use 碾 for crushing or grinding with a stone roller, while 磨 is used for grinding with a millstone or for finer grinding processes.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 碾 with similar verbs like 磨 (mó), which means to grind more generally. 碾 is more specific to the rolling action of stones, so be mindful of context. This term is more informal, often used in everyday conversations about cooking or agriculture.
HSK Study Tips
Although 碾 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other agricultural terms like 粉 (fěn, flour) and 压 (yā, to press). Students should focus on the context in which grinding and crushing are discussed, especially in cooking or traditional practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 碾 when referring to grinding with a machine instead of a stone, which can lead to confusion. The correct term for machine grinding would be 磨 (mó).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 碾
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 碾 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 展 represents the sound.
1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
2The sound half展 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaystone
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 碾? 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 碾?
Decomposition of 碾
IDS Structure⿰石展
碾Full Character
=
石dan4
left
展Zhan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 碾?
How to say stone roller; to crush, to roll in Chinese
“stone roller; to crush, to roll” in Chinese is碾niǎn
The character 碾 (niǎn) refers to the action of crushing or grinding, typically done using a stone roller or millstone. It is commonly used in agricultural contexts, such as the processing of grains or seeds, where the intention is to break down the materials into smaller, usable forms.
When to use 碾
Learners often confuse 碾 with similar verbs like 磨 (mó), which means to grind more generally. 碾 is more specific to the rolling action of stones, so be mindful of context. This term is more informal, often used in everyday conversations about cooking or agriculture.
碾 or something close to it
碾 (niǎn) vs 磨 (mó) — use 碾 for crushing or grinding with a stone roller, while 磨 is used for grinding with a millstone or for finer grinding processes.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes use 碾 when referring to grinding with a machine instead of a stone, which can lead to confusion. The correct term for machine grinding would be 磨 (mó).
Write 碾
碾
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 碾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 碾
碾 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
橄榄被石磙____成了酱。
The olives are crushed to a pulp by stone rollers.
Example Sentences for 碾 (6)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
橄榄被石磙碾成了酱。
gǎn lǎn bèi shí gǔn niǎn chéng le jiàng。
The olives are crushed to a pulp by stone rollers.
