Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
碾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
碾
niǎn
stone roller; to crush, to roll
v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #10303, Very Hard
碾
niǎn
roller and millstone
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)nian 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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 碾 means.
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
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 碾, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 碾 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.
How well do you know 碾?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 碾 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
碾 = 石 + 展. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 碾
IDS Structure⿰石展
碾Full character
=
石dan4
left
展Zhan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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 dàn gǔn niǎn chéng le jiàng。
The olives are crushed to a pulp by stone rollers.
