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唸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
唸niànto recite, to read, to chantzg, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #22226, Very Hard
niàn(nian4)nian T4
  1. 1to recite, to read, to chant
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March 24, 2026

唸niàn(nian4)

The character 唸 (niàn) means 'to recite' or 'to read aloud,' often in a context where someone is performing a text, such as poetry or scripture. It is commonly used in educational settings, religious practices, and cultural events, where the emphasis is on pronunciation and rhythm.

Strokes11Radical口Frequency#22226DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, reciting classical texts is an important tradition, often associated with education and respect for literature. This practice is seen during festivals, where poetry is recited to honor ancestors or express emotions.

Memory tip

Picture a teacher (the radical '口' for 'mouth') passionately reciting a poem (the '念' part looks like a person deep in thought, perhaps holding a scroll). Imagine the sound of their voice echoing in a classroom, helping you remember 'niàn' means to read or recite.

Meanings of 唸

niàn(nian4)
1to recite, to read, to chant
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 唸 means.

About 唸

唸Simplified
11Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 唸

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Podcast: 唸

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AI study notes for 唸

Quick Contrast

朗诵 (lǎngsòng) - use 唸 (niàn) when focusing on reciting text aloud, while 朗诵 (lǎngsòng) emphasizes a more expressive or artistic reading.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 唸 (niàn) with 念 (niàn), which can mean 'to think' or 'to recall.' It's important to use 唸 specifically for recitation contexts, often in a more formal or literary register. Common collocations include 唸經 (niàn jīng, to chant scriptures).

HSK Study Tips

While this character is not part of the official HSK levels, it is related to other characters like 念 (niàn) and 读 (dú), which also pertain to reading and understanding. Focus on the context of recitation in your studies to distinguish its usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 唸 in informal contexts where 读 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我唸书' (I recite books) instead of '我读书' (I read books). Always reserve 唸 for formal recitation situations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 唸

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Etymology of 唸

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 今 represents the sound.

Memory hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)念
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

唸 = 口 + 念. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 唸

IDS Structure⿰口念
唸Full character
=
口kou3
left
念nian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 唸?

How to say to recite, to read, to chant in Chinese

“to recite, to read, to chant” in Chinese is唸niàn

The character 唸 (niàn) means 'to recite' or 'to read aloud,' often in a context where someone is performing a text, such as poetry or scripture. It is commonly used in educational settings, religious practices, and cultural events, where the emphasis is on pronunciation and rhythm.

When to use 唸

Learners often confuse 唸 (niàn) with 念 (niàn), which can mean 'to think' or 'to recall.' It's important to use 唸 specifically for recitation contexts, often in a more formal or literary register. Common collocations include 唸經 (niàn jīng, to chant scriptures).

唸 or something close to it

朗诵 (lǎngsòng) - use 唸 (niàn) when focusing on reciting text aloud, while 朗诵 (lǎngsòng) emphasizes a more expressive or artistic reading.

What learners get wrong

Learners often use 唸 in informal contexts where 读 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我唸书' (I recite books) instead of '我读书' (I read books). Always reserve 唸 for formal recitation situations.

Write 唸

唸

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Word Family of 唸

Words containing this character20
念niànto read
想念xiǎngniànto miss
概念gàiniànconcept
纪念jìniànto commemorate紀念
观念guānniànnotion觀念
怀念huáiniànto think of懷念
理念lǐniànidea
信念xìnniànfaith
念头niàntouthought念頭
思念sīniànto think of
纪念日jìniànrìmemorial day紀念日
纪念品jìniànpǐnsouvenir紀念品
悬念xuánniànconcern for sb's welfare懸念
悼念dàoniànto grieve
念书niànshūto read念書
意念yìniànidea
纪念碑jìniànbēimonument紀念碑
纪念馆jìniànguǎnmemorial hall紀念館
念念不忘niànniànbúwàngto keep in mind constantly (idiom)
念叨niàndaoto talk about often
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 唸

What does 念 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 唸

No, while they share the same pronunciation, 唸 specifically refers to reciting or reading aloud, whereas 念 can mean to think or remember.

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