Meanings of 讷
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About 讷
Podcast: 讷
Podcast: 讷
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AI Study Notes for 讷
笨 (bèn, foolish) vs 慢 (màn, slow) — choose 讷 when specifically referring to speech difficulties rather than general slowness or foolishness.
This character is generally used in more formal contexts. Be cautious with its tone, as it can come off as critical if used to describe someone's speech negatively. Common collocations include '讷言' (nèyán - slow speech) and '讷语' (nèyǔ - inarticulate language).
While 讷 is not an HSK level word, it connects with concepts of speech and communication found in lower levels. Students should focus on recognizing it in written contexts and understanding its connotations related to speech fluency.
Learners often confuse 讷 with similar-sounding words like 乞 (qǐ - beg) due to pronunciation similarities. Remember, 讷 specifically relates to speech fluency, while 乞 has a different meaning altogether.
Pronunciation of 讷
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Etymology of 讷
Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 内 represents the sound. Simplified form of 訥.
speech
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 讷
Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 内 represents the sound. Simplified form of 訥.
- 1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half内 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayspeech
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 讷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 讷
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How to say inarticulate, slow; to mumble, to stammer in Chinese
“inarticulate, slow; to mumble, to stammer” in Chinese is讷
The character 讷 (nè) refers to someone who is inarticulate or speaks slowly. It often describes a person who may mumble, stammer, or struggle to express thoughts verbally, highlighting a lack of fluency or confidence in speech. Common contexts include discussing someone's speaking style or evaluating their communication skills.
When to use 讷
This character is generally used in more formal contexts. Be cautious with its tone, as it can come off as critical if used to describe someone's speech negatively. Common collocations include '讷言' (nèyán - slow speech) and '讷语' (nèyǔ - inarticulate language).
讷 or something close to it
笨 (bèn, foolish) vs 慢 (màn, slow) — choose 讷 when specifically referring to speech difficulties rather than general slowness or foolishness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 讷 with similar-sounding words like 乞 (qǐ - beg) due to pronunciation similarities. Remember, 讷 specifically relates to speech fluency, while 乞 has a different meaning altogether.
Write 讷
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Practice writing 讷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 讷
讷 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.
Complete the Sentence
方鸿 渐 ____讷道: “ 不, 还有你表妹. ”
Fang Hung - chien said hesitatingly , " No, your cousin is also coming. "
Example Sentences for 讷 (1)
Word Family of 讷
Compound Meaning
What does 讷 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 讷
You can say '他讲话很讷' (tā jiǎnghuà hěn nè) meaning 'He speaks very slowly/inarticulately.'
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