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臬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
臬nièprovincial judge; law, rule; door postnr, 10 strokes, radical 自
臬nièguidepostunknown, 10 strokes, radical 自
臬nièstandardunknown, 10 strokes, radical 自
臬nièlimitunknown, 10 strokes, radical 自
臬niètarget (old)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自
niè(nie4) T4
  1. 1provincial judge; law, rule; door post
  2. 2guidepost
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March 24, 2026

臬niè(nie4)

The character 臬 (niè) refers to a provincial judge or a legal authority. It can also denote concepts such as rules, standards, and limits, particularly in a historical or formal context. It is less commonly used in modern language but can still be encountered in legal or literary texts.

Strokes10Radical自
Cultural Note

In ancient China, provincial judges played a crucial role in the administration of justice, reflecting the importance of law and order in society. The character connects to the historical practice of local governance and the formalization of legal standards.

Memory Tip

Imagine a judge sitting at a door post (the radical '门' represents door) making rulings on standards and limits. The pronunciation 'niè' can be remembered by thinking of a 'neat judge' who is orderly and precise in their decisions.

Meanings of 臬

niè(nie4)
1provincial judge; law, rule; door post
2guidepost
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 臬

臬Simplified
10Strokes
自Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 臬

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Podcast: 臬

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AI Study Notes for 臬

Usage Notes

While '臬' is not frequently used in everyday conversation, it is important in legal contexts. Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding characters, so pay attention to the tone and context when using it in writing or speech. Avoid using it in informal situations.

HSK Study Tips

As '臬' is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, focus on understanding the context in which it appears, particularly in historical texts or legal documents. It can be compared with other legal terms you might learn at this level to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 臬 with 叶 (yè), meaning 'leaf', due to their similar pronunciation. To avoid this, remember that 臬 relates to legal terms while 叶 relates to nature.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 臬

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Etymology of 臬

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

A notice 自 posted on a tree 木

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 臬

  1. 1The giveawayA notice 自 posted on a tree 木
  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 臬? 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 臬?

Decomposition of 臬

IDS Structure⿱自木
臬Full Character
=
自zi4
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 臬?

How to say provincial judge; law, rule; door post in Chinese

“provincial judge; law, rule; door post” in Chinese is臬niè

The character 臬 (niè) refers to a provincial judge or a legal authority. It can also denote concepts such as rules, standards, and limits, particularly in a historical or formal context. It is less commonly used in modern language but can still be encountered in legal or literary texts.

When to use 臬

While '臬' is not frequently used in everyday conversation, it is important in legal contexts. Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding characters, so pay attention to the tone and context when using it in writing or speech. Avoid using it in informal situations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 臬 with 叶 (yè), meaning 'leaf', due to their similar pronunciation. To avoid this, remember that 臬 relates to legal terms while 叶 relates to nature.

Write 臬

臬

Practice writing 臬 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 臬

Words Containing This Character2
臬nièrule
奉为圭臬to take as a guiding principle (idiom)奉為圭臬
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 臬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 臬

No, it is mostly found in historical or legal texts and is not used in everyday conversation.

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