Meanings of 粘
By ear
Play it, then pick what 粘 means.
About 粘
Podcast: 粘
Podcast: 粘
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 粘
粘 (nián) vs 附 (fù) — use 粘 when emphasizing the quality of stickiness, while 附 focuses on the act of attaching or being attached.
Be careful not to confuse 粘 (nián) with 黏 (nián), which has a similar meaning but is used in different contexts. 粘 is more often used in practical, everyday situations, while 黏 might be used in more formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include 粘胶 (niánjiāo - adhesive) and 粘土 (niántǔ - clay).
Although 粘 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects with other vocabulary related to food and materials, particularly at HSK 3 and 4. Focus on contextual usage in culinary terms and adhesive products to enhance understanding.
Learners often confuse 粘 with the similar-sounding 黏, leading to incorrect usage in contexts. For example, saying '粘土' (niántǔ - sticky clay) instead of the correct '黏土' (niántǔ - adhesive clay) is a common error.
Pronunciation of 粘
Drill the tone of 粘 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 粘 to You
Let me explain 粘 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 粘 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 粘?
Learning Lab
Knowing 粘 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.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 粘
Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 占 represents the sound.
grain
Origin
粘 = 米 + 占. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 粘
Parts
Which of these is part of 粘?
How to say glutinous in Chinese
“glutinous” in Chinese is粘
The character 粘 (nián) primarily means to stick or adhere to something, often referring to materials that are sticky or glutinous in nature. It is commonly used in contexts involving adhesive substances, food textures, or situations where items are physically attached to one another, such as glue or sticky rice.
When to use 粘
Be careful not to confuse 粘 (nián) with 黏 (nián), which has a similar meaning but is used in different contexts. 粘 is more often used in practical, everyday situations, while 黏 might be used in more formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include 粘胶 (niánjiāo - adhesive) and 粘土 (niántǔ - clay).
粘 or something close to it
粘 (nián) vs 附 (fù) — use 粘 when emphasizing the quality of stickiness, while 附 focuses on the act of attaching or being attached.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 粘 with the similar-sounding 黏, leading to incorrect usage in contexts. For example, saying '粘土' (niántǔ - sticky clay) instead of the correct '黏土' (niántǔ - adhesive clay) is a common error.
Write 粘
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 粘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 粘
粘 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 7 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
在这间客厅，我们____贴了各种美丽的印花纸。
In this living room we've mixed glorious floral prints.
Common Confusions with 粘
Similar pronunciation and meaning, but different characters.
Both characters refer to stickiness, but 粘 is more often used in the sense of 'to stick or adhere' while 黏 often refers to the glutinous quality.
这块糖果很黏。
Both characters refer to stickiness, but 粘 is more often used in the sense of 'to stick or adhere' while 黏 often refers to the glutinous quality.
Which one
Which one means “glutinous”?
Example Sentences for 粘 (10)
Ask Jason
Have a question about 粘?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Word Family of 粘
Words with 粘
What does 粘连 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 粘
The correct pronunciation is 'nián', with a rising tone, similar to the sound 'nee-an'.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 粘?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.