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念 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
念
niàn
to think of, to recall; to study
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #2008, Hard
念
niàn
to study (a subject)
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #2008, Hard
念
niàn
to attend (a school)
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #2008, Hard
念
niàn
to read aloud
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #2008, Hard
念
niàn
to miss (sb)
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #2008, Hard
念
niàn
idea
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #2008, Hard
念
niàn
remembrance
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #2008, Hard
念
niàn
twenty (banker's anti-fraud numeral corresponding to 廿, 20)
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #2008, Hard
niàn(nian4)nian T4
1to think of, to recall; to study
2to study (a subject)
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March 24, 2026
念(唸)niàn(nian4)
The character 念 (niàn) primarily means 'to read aloud' or 'to think of.' It is commonly used in educational contexts when referring to studying or recalling information, as well as expressing sentiments of missing someone or something. The character captures both the act of vocalizing written text and the deeper emotional process of remembrance.
Strokes8Radical心Frequency#2008DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 念 often conveys deep emotional significance, especially when expressing thoughts of loved ones who are far away or have passed. It reflects the importance of maintaining connections through memory and thought, which is a key theme in Chinese literature and philosophy.
Memory tip
Imagine a student (念) reading aloud in class, where the act of reading (like reciting a poem) connects to both vocal expression and thoughtful reflection. Picture the student holding a book in one hand while the other hand points to their heart, symbolizing the connection between reading and emotional remembrance.
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AI study notes for 念
Quick Contrast
思 (sī) - use 念 (niàn) for reading aloud or recalling, while 思 (sī) emphasizes thinking or pondering.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 念 with its homophones, particularly 念念 (niànniàn), which means 'to think of constantly.' It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more prevalent in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone; a common mistake is mispronouncing it as 'nán' instead of 'niàn.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 念 connects well with other verbs related to cognitive and emotional processes, such as 思 (sī, to think) and 想 (xiǎng, to miss or to think of). Students should practice using it in various sentence structures, especially in the context of education and relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 念 when they intend to say 'to read' in a casual context, mistakenly using it instead of 读 (dú). For example, saying '我念中文' instead of '我读中文' (wǒ dú zhōngwén) to mean 'I read Chinese.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 念
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How to say to think of, to recall; to study in Chinese
“to think of, to recall; to study” in Chinese is念niàn
The character 念 (niàn) primarily means 'to read aloud' or 'to think of.' It is commonly used in educational contexts when referring to studying or recalling information, as well as expressing sentiments of missing someone or something. The character captures both the act of vocalizing written text and the deeper emotional process of remembrance.
When to use 念
Learners often confuse 念 with its homophones, particularly 念念 (niànniàn), which means 'to think of constantly.' It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more prevalent in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone; a common mistake is mispronouncing it as 'nán' instead of 'niàn.'
念 or something close to it
思 (sī) - use 念 (niàn) for reading aloud or recalling, while 思 (sī) emphasizes thinking or pondering.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 念 when they intend to say 'to read' in a casual context, mistakenly using it instead of 读 (dú). For example, saying '我念中文' instead of '我读中文' (wǒ dú zhōngwén) to mean 'I read Chinese.'
Write 念
念
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Practice writing 念 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 念
念 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 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Whenever a new poem is published, he reads it aloud to everyone at the literary salon.
24
为了更好地理解文章，老师让学生们轮流念课文。
Wèile gèng hǎo dì lǐjiě wénzhāng, lǎoshī ràng xuéshēng men lúnliú niàn kèwén.
To better understand the article, the teacher had the students take turns reading the text aloud.
25
他喜欢把自己写的故事念给朋友们听，希望得到一些反馈。
Tā xǐhuān bǎ zìjǐ xiě de gùshì niàn gěi péngyǒumen tīng, xīwàng dédào yīxiē fǎnkuì.
He enjoys reading his stories aloud to friends, hoping to receive some feedback.
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Word Family of 念
Compounds20
鲶niáncatfish; sheat
唸niànto recite, to read, to chant
稔rěnripe grain; to harvest; to know well
捻niǎnto twist or nip with the fingers
敜niè
棯rěn
淰niǎn
腍rèn
谂shěnto counsel, to consult for
埝niàndike, embankment; protuberance
惗niè
焾niǎn
艌niàn
菍niè
諗shěn
趝jiàn
踗niè
錜niè
騐yàn
鯰niánsheatfish
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 念
What does 鲶 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 念
念 (niàn) can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In academic settings, it's common to use it when referring to studying or reading aloud, while in casual conversation, it can express feelings of missing someone.
Some synonyms for 念 include 思 (sī), which means 'to think,' and 读 (dú), which means 'to read.' The choice of synonym often depends on the specific context of the conversation.
念 (niàn) has several meanings in Chinese. It can mean 'to read aloud,' 'to study a subject,' or 'to miss someone.' It can also refer to an idea or thought, depending on the context in which it is used.
You can use 念 (niàn) in sentences like '我在念书' (Wǒ zài niàn shū) meaning 'I am studying' or '我很想念你' (Wǒ hěn xiǎngniàn nǐ) meaning 'I miss you.' The context will determine its specific meaning.
You can say, '我念书' (wǒ niàn shū) meaning 'I read (study) books.'
While both mean 'to read,' 念 emphasizes reading aloud or recalling thoughts, whereas 读 is more about reading silently or casually.
Yes, you can say '我很念你' (wǒ hěn niàn nǐ) to express 'I miss you.'
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