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屰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
屰nìdisobedientx, 6 strokes, radical 屮
nì(ni4) T4
  1. 1disobedient
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March 24, 2026

屰nì(ni4)

The character 屰 (nì) means 'disobedient' or 'rebellious,' often describing someone who does not comply with rules or authority. It is used in contexts where an individual shows a lack of respect for established norms or guidelines, particularly in familial or societal settings.

Strokes6Radical屮
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, obedience to family and authority is highly valued, making the concept of disobedience particularly significant. The character 屰 reflects cultural expectations around compliance and familial respect.

Memory Tip

Imagine a stubborn child (the character 屰) refusing to follow a parent's instructions. The left side of the character looks like a roof, indicating a home where rules are made, and the right side resembles a person rebelling against it.

Meanings of 屰

nì(ni4)
1disobedient
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 屰

屰Simplified
6Strokes
屮Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 屰

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Podcast: 屰

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AI Study Notes for 屰

Usage Notes

This character is relatively rare and may not be familiar in everyday conversation. It is more common in literary or formal contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 屰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding this character can deepen knowledge of describing behavior in Chinese. Learners should focus on the context in which it is used, especially in literary texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 屰 with other words like 逆 (nì), which means 'reverse' or 'against.' A common mistake is saying '他是个逆' instead of '他是个屰,' which would be incorrect in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 屰

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Etymology of 屰

Explanation

Pictograph of an upside-down person. Original form of 逆.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 屰

Pictograph of an upside-down person. Original form of 逆.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

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Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 屰?

Decomposition of 屰

IDS Structure⿱?屮
屰Full Character
=
屮che4
top
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 屰?

How to say disobedient in Chinese

“disobedient” in Chinese is屰nì

The character 屰 (nì) means 'disobedient' or 'rebellious,' often describing someone who does not comply with rules or authority. It is used in contexts where an individual shows a lack of respect for established norms or guidelines, particularly in familial or societal settings.

When to use 屰

This character is relatively rare and may not be familiar in everyday conversation. It is more common in literary or formal contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 屰 with other words like 逆 (nì), which means 'reverse' or 'against.' A common mistake is saying '他是个逆' instead of '他是个屰,' which would be incorrect in context.

Write 屰

屰

Practice writing 屰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 屰

No, 屰 is not commonly used in everyday speech and is more often found in literary contexts.

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