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聂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
聂nièsurname Nieunknown, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #22588, Very Hard
聂nièto whisper; surnamenr, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #22588, Very Hard
niè(Nie4) T4
  1. 1surname Nie
  2. 2to whisper; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Nie — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

聂(聶)niè(Nie4)

The character 聂 (niè) primarily means 'to whisper' and is also a common Chinese surname. It is often used in contexts involving soft speech or secretive communication, highlighting its nuanced meaning related to sound and intimacy.

Strokes10Radical耳Frequency#22588DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The surname 聂 is relatively less common in China, but it holds historical significance as it is associated with several notable figures in Chinese history. Understanding this surname can provide insight into family lineage and cultural heritage.

Memory Tip

Imagine a soft whispering echo in a quiet forest. The character 聂 has the '耳' (ear) radical, which suggests listening closely, while the '聂' itself can remind you of 'whispering' secrets that only the ears can hear.

Meanings of 聂

niè(Nie4)
1to whisper; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 聂

聂Simplified
聶Traditional
10Strokes
耳Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 聂

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Podcast: 聂

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AI Study Notes for 聂

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 聂 with similar-sounding characters, as context is key to its meaning. It is more commonly used informally in everyday conversations about quiet speech. Note that while it can serve as a surname, in formal contexts, it should be capitalized and used appropriately.

HSK Study Tips

Although 聂 is not included in the HSK levels, it shares phonetic similarities with other characters. Focus on recognizing its components, such as the '耳' radical, as it may help in understanding other characters related to sound.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 聂 by using the wrong tone; for instance, saying 'nie' instead of 'niè'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar characters like '捏' (niē), which means 'to pinch'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 聂

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Etymology of 聂

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 聶. Triple of 耳 (ear).

Memory Hint

A pair 双 of ears 耳

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 聂

Simplified form of 聶. Triple of 耳 (ear).

  1. 1The giveawayA pair 双 of ears 耳
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 聂? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 聂?

Decomposition of 聂

IDS Structure⿱耳双
聂Full Character
=
耳er3
top
双Shuang1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 聂?

How to say surname Nie in Chinese

“surname Nie” in Chinese is聂niè

The character 聂 (niè) primarily means 'to whisper' and is also a common Chinese surname. It is often used in contexts involving soft speech or secretive communication, highlighting its nuanced meaning related to sound and intimacy.

When to use 聂

Be cautious not to confuse 聂 with similar-sounding characters, as context is key to its meaning. It is more commonly used informally in everyday conversations about quiet speech. Note that while it can serve as a surname, in formal contexts, it should be capitalized and used appropriately.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 聂 by using the wrong tone; for instance, saying 'nie' instead of 'niè'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar characters like '捏' (niē), which means 'to pinch'.

Write 聂

聂

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 聂

Words Containing This Character7
聂nièsurname Nie聶
聂卫平Nie Weiping (1952-), professional Go player聶衛平
聂耳Nie Er (1912-1935), musician and composer of the PRC national anthem March of the Volunteer Army 義勇軍進行曲|义勇军进行曲聶耳
聂拉木Nyalam county, Tibetan: Gnya' lam rdzong, in Shigatse prefecture, Tibet聶拉木
聂荣Nyainrong county, Tibetan: Gnyan rong rdzong, in Nagchu prefecture 那曲地區|那曲地区[Nà​qǔ​dì​qū], central Tibet聶榮
聂拉木县Nyalam county, Tibetan: Gnya' lam rdzong, in Shigatse prefecture, Tibet聶拉木縣
聂荣县Nyainrong county, Tibetan: Gnyan rong rdzong, in Nagchu prefecture 那曲地區|那曲地区[Nà​qǔ​dì​qū], central Tibet聶榮縣
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 聂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 聂

The correct pronunciation is 'niè', with a falling tone.

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