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臲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
niètottering, unsteady; jumpy, jitteryx, 16 strokes, radical 自, Very Hard
niè(nie4) T4
  1. 1tottering, unsteady; jumpy, jittery
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March 24, 2026

niè(nie4)

The character 臲 (niè) describes a state of being unsteady or tottering, often associated with a lack of stability or a jittery demeanor. It can be used to describe physical movements that are shaky or erratic, as well as metaphorical states of mind, such as feeling jumpy or anxious.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The concept of being unsteady or jittery can relate to traditional Chinese practices like Tai Chi, where balance is key, reflecting the importance of physical stability in both health and philosophy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person trying to walk on a tightrope (the character's form suggests a balancing act) but wobbling and about to fall. The character 臲, with its components suggesting motion and instability, reminds you of this precarious situation, linking the sound 'niè' to the feeling of being unsteady.

Meanings of 臲

niè(nie4)
1tottering, unsteady; jumpy, jittery
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 臲

Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 臲

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 臲

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person trying to walk on a tightrope (the character's form suggests a balancing act) but wobbling and about to fall. The character 臲, with its components suggesting motion and instability, reminds you of this precarious situation, linking the sound 'niè' to the feeling of being unsteady.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 臲 with similar-sounding characters that describe steadiness. This word is more commonly used in literary or descriptive contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be mindful of the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

As this character is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on understanding its components and usage in advanced texts. Connecting it with other characters related to movement can enhance comprehension.

Cultural Note

The concept of being unsteady or jittery can relate to traditional Chinese practices like Tai Chi, where balance is key, reflecting the importance of physical stability in both health and philosophy.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to confuse 臲 with the character 稳 (wěn), which means stable or steady. For instance, saying '我感觉很臲' (Wǒ gǎnjué hěn niè) to mean 'I feel stable' is incorrect; it should be '我感觉很稳' (Wǒ gǎnjué hěn wěn).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 臲

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Etymology of 臲

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

precarious

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 臲?

Decomposition of 臲

IDS Structure⿰臬危
Full Character
=
nie4
left
Wei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 臲?

Write 臲

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 臲

🏮Cultural insight

The concept of being unsteady or jittery can relate to traditional Chinese practices like Tai Chi, where balance is key, reflecting the importance of physical stability in both health and philosophy.

Word Family of 臲

Words Containing This Character1
niètottering
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 臲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 臲

You can use 臲 to describe a person who is nervous or physically unstable, such as a child who hasn’t learned to walk properly.