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拧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拧níngto pinchHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧níngwringHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧níngmistakeHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧níngto twistHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧níngstubbornHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧níngscrew, wrench; to pinch, to twist, to wringHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nǐngto pinchHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nǐngwringHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nǐngmistakeHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nǐngto twistHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nǐngstubbornHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nǐngscrew, wrench; to pinch, to twist, to wringHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nìngto pinchHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nìngwringHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nìngmistakeHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nìngto twistHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nìngstubbornHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
拧nìngscrew, wrench; to pinch, to twist, to wringHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6943, Very Hard
níng(ning2)
primary
 T2
  1. 1to pinch
  2. 2wring
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

拧(擰)níng(ning2)

The character 拧 (níng) primarily means 'to twist' or 'to wring,' often used in the context of twisting fabrics or objects. It can also imply a stubborn attitude or the act of pinching something tightly. This word is commonly used in both physical and metaphorical contexts, such as describing a stubborn person or a complex situation.

Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#6943DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 'stubborn' (拧) can be viewed both positively and negatively, often associated with perseverance in achieving goals or negatively as inflexibility. This duality reflects a common cultural appreciation for both determination and the importance of adaptability.

Memory Tip

Imagine a stubborn person named Ning who twists a towel tightly to wring out water, demonstrating both the action of 'wringing' and their stubborn personality. The character 拧 combines the hand radical 扌, indicating action, with the character for 'to twist' or 'to bend', reinforcing the idea of twisting and pinching.

Meanings of 拧

níng(ning2)
primary
1to pinch
2wring
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 拧

拧Simplified
擰Traditional
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6943Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 拧

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Podcast: 拧

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 拧

Quick Contrast

拧 (níng) vs 扭 (niǔ) — use 拧 for twisting or wringing with a focus on tightness, while 扭 emphasizes bending or turning.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 拧 with similar characters like 捏 (niē, to pinch) or 扭 (niǔ, to twist), which have slightly different nuances. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts when discussing actions involving twisting or stubbornness. Be mindful of the tone as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 拧 connects with other verbs related to physical actions and emotions. Focus on using it in sentences that express both the literal act of twisting and the metaphorical sense of stubbornness, enhancing your vocabulary around complex actions and feelings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 拧 in place of other verbs like 扭 (niǔ) when referring to twisting actions. For example, saying '我拧了瓶子' (I twisted the bottle) is incorrect; it should be '我扭了瓶子' (I twisted the bottle).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拧

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Etymology of 拧

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 宁 represents the sound. Simplified form of 擰.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)宁
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 拧

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 宁 represents the sound. Simplified form of 擰.

  1. 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half宁 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhand
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 拧? 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 拧?

Decomposition of 拧

IDS Structure⿰扌宁
拧Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
宁Ning2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 拧?

How to say to pinch in Chinese

“to pinch” in Chinese is拧níng

The character 拧 (níng) primarily means 'to twist' or 'to wring,' often used in the context of twisting fabrics or objects. It can also imply a stubborn attitude or the act of pinching something tightly. This word is commonly used in both physical and metaphorical contexts, such as describing a stubborn person or a complex situation.

When to use 拧

Learners often confuse 拧 with similar characters like 捏 (niē, to pinch) or 扭 (niǔ, to twist), which have slightly different nuances. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts when discussing actions involving twisting or stubbornness. Be mindful of the tone as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

拧 or something close to it

拧 (níng) vs 扭 (niǔ) — use 拧 for twisting or wringing with a focus on tightness, while 扭 emphasizes bending or turning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 拧 in place of other verbs like 扭 (niǔ) when referring to twisting actions. For example, saying '我拧了瓶子' (I twisted the bottle) is incorrect; it should be '我扭了瓶子' (I twisted the bottle).

Write 拧

拧

Practice writing 拧 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 拧

拧 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 6 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

Complete the Sentence

将混合物____成一段段的香肠，不要把皮弄破。

Twist the mixture into individual sausages without splitting the skins.

Example Sentences for 拧 (22)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
将混合物拧成一段段的香肠，不要把皮弄破。

jiāng hùn hé wù níng chéng yī duàn duàn de xiāng cháng， ， bù yào bǎ pí nòng。

Twist the mixture into individual sausages without splitting the skins.
2
他已经快把螺丝帽拧下来了。

tā yǐ jīng kuài bǎ luó sī mào níng xià lái le。

He had unscrewed the caps most of the way.
3
我用拇指指甲把台灯上的螺钉拧紧了。

wǒ yòng mǔ zhǐ zhǐ jiǎ bǎ tái dēng shàng de luó dīng níng jǐn le。

I used my thumbnail to tighten the screw on my lamp.
4
他走开去把湿衬衫拧干。

tā zǒu kāi qù bǎ shī chèn shān níng gān。

He turned away to wring out the wet shirt.
5
这个瓶盖儿我拧不开。

zhè gè píng gài ér wǒ níng bù kāi。

I can't unscrew the lid of this jar.
6
我姐姐老拧我，好痛喔。

wǒ jiě jiě lǎo níng wǒ， ， hǎo tòng。

My sister's always pinching me and it really hurts.
7
拧下车轮螺母，放掉车胎的气，换上备用胎。

níng xià chē lún luó mǔ， ， fàng diào chē tāi de， qì ， huàn shàng bèi。

Remove wheelnuts, let down tyre, put on spare.
8
咱们把这两根管子接起来拧紧.

zán mén bǎ zhè liǎng gēn guǎn zǐ jiē qǐ lái níng jǐn.

Let's screw the two pipes together end to end.
9
两人越说越拧.

liǎng rén yuè shuō yuè níng.

The more they talked, the more they disagreed.
10
她拧了他一下以弄醒他.

tā níng le tā yī xià yǐ nòng xǐng tā.

She gave him a pinch to wake him up.
11
她轻轻地拧了拇指和食指之间的那块皮，想看看他是否会反应。

Tā qīngqīng de níng le mǔzhǐ hé shízhǐ zhī jiān de nà kuài pí, xiǎng kàn kàn tā shìfǒu huì fǎnyìng.

She gently pinched the skin between her thumb and index finger to see if he would react.
12
小猫不停地拧我的手指，感觉像是挠痒痒。

Xiǎo māo bùtíng de níng wǒ de shǒuzhǐ, gǎnjué xiàng shì náo yǎngyang.

The kitten kept pinching my finger, feeling like a tickle.
13
他生气时会用力拧自己的手臂，来让自己冷静下来。

Tā shēngqì shí huì yònglì níng zìjǐ de shǒubì, lái ràng zìjǐ lěngjìng xiàlái.

When he's angry, he pinches his arm hard to calm himself down.
14
奶奶总是轻轻拧我的脸颊说我长得像爸爸。

Nǎinai zǒng shì qīngqīng níng wǒ de liǎnjiá shuō wǒ zhǎng de xiàng bàba.

Grandma always gently pinches my cheeks and says I look like my dad.
15
他拧了拇指和食指之间的皮肤，试图缓解手指的疼痛。

Tā níng le mǔzhǐ hé shǐzhǐ zhījiān de pífū, shìtú huǎnjiě shǒuzhǐ de téngtòng.

He pinched the skin between his thumb and index finger, trying to relieve the pain in his fingers.
16
她用两根手指拧了一下我的鼻子，笑着说我太调皮了。

Tā yòng liǎng gēn shǒuzhǐ níng le yīxià wǒ de bízi, xiàozhe shuō wǒ tài tiáopí le.

She pinched my nose with two fingers and laughed, saying I was too naughty.
17
她轻轻地拧了拇指和食指之间的那块皮，想看看他是否会反应。

Tā qīngqīng de níng le mǔzhǐ hé shízhǐ zhī jiān de nà kuài pí, xiǎng kàn kàn tā shìfǒu huì fǎnyìng.

She gently pinched the skin between her thumb and index finger to see if he would react.
18
小猫不停地拧我的手指，感觉像是挠痒痒。

Xiǎo māo bùtíng de níng wǒ de shǒuzhǐ, gǎnjué xiàng shì náo yǎngyang.

The kitten kept pinching my finger, feeling like a tickle.
19
他生气时会用力拧自己的手臂，来让自己冷静下来。

Tā shēngqì shí huì yònglì níng zìjǐ de shǒubì, lái ràng zìjǐ lěngjìng xiàlái.

When he's angry, he pinches his arm hard to calm himself down.
20
奶奶总是轻轻拧我的脸颊说我长得像爸爸。

Nǎinai zǒng shì qīngqīng níng wǒ de liǎnjiá shuō wǒ zhǎng de xiàng bàba.

Grandma always gently pinches my cheeks and says I look like my dad.
21
他拧了拇指和食指之间的皮肤，试图缓解手指的疼痛。

Tā níng le mǔzhǐ hé shǐzhǐ zhījiān de pífū, shìtú huǎnjiě shǒuzhǐ de téngtòng.

He pinched the skin between his thumb and index finger, trying to relieve the pain in his fingers.
22
她用两根手指拧了一下我的鼻子，笑着说我太调皮了。

Tā yòng liǎng gēn shǒuzhǐ níng le yīxià wǒ de bízi, xiàozhe shuō wǒ tài tiáopí le.

She pinched my nose with two fingers and laughed, saying I was too naughty.

Word Family of 拧

Words Containing This Character3
拧níngwring擰
拧开to unscrew擰開
拧成一股绳(fig.) to unite擰成一股繩
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 拧 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 拧

Common phrases include 拧开 (níngkāi, to twist open) and 拧紧 (níngjǐn, to twist tight).

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