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捏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
捏
niē
to pinch (with one's fingers)
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5297, Very Hard
捏
niē
to knead
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5297, Very Hard
捏
niē
to make up
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5297, Very Hard
捏
niē
to knead, to mold, to pinch
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5297, Very Hard
niē(nie1)nie T1
1to pinch (with one's fingers)
2to knead
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March 24, 2026
捏niē(nie1)
The verb '捏' (niē) primarily means to pinch or knead something with one's fingers. It is often used in contexts involving shaping materials like dough or clay, as well as in metaphorical uses such as creating or fabricating a story. The nuance involves a physical action that conveys a sense of control and manipulation.
Strokes10Radical扌Frequency#5297DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, the technique of '捏' is essential for making dumplings, where the dough is pinched and molded to seal the filling. This reflects the importance of craftsmanship in Chinese culinary traditions.
Memory tip
Think of '捏' (niē) as 'knead'—they sound similar! Visualize pinching dough between your fingers to form a perfect bread roll. The character combines the radical for 'hand' (手) and the action of squeezing, emphasizing the tactile nature of the verb.
Meanings of 捏
niē(nie1)
1to pinch (with one's fingers)
2to knead
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 捏
捏Simplified
10Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5297Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 捏
Podcast: 捏
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AI study notes for 捏
Quick Contrast
捏 (pinch) vs 挤 (squeeze) — use 捏 when shaping or manipulating with fingers, while 挤 implies applying pressure to extract or compress.
Usage Notes
'捏' is often confused with '夹' (jiā), which means to clip or pinch in a different context, such as between two objects. It is generally used in informal settings, but it can appear in more formal discussions of culinary or artistic techniques. Be careful with tone; the second tone 'niē' must be pronounced accurately to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, '捏' connects well with other verbs related to physical actions, especially those involving manipulation or transformation of objects. Students should focus on its various applications in cooking and crafting, as well as its figurative uses in speech and writing.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '捏' with '拿' (ná), which means to hold. For example, saying '我拿面团' (I hold the dough) instead of '我捏面团' (I knead the dough) is incorrect. Remember, '捏' involves a more active manipulation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 捏
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 捏 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.
捏 = 扌 + 圼. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 捏
IDS Structure⿰扌圼
捏Full character
=
扌shou3
left
圼nie4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 捏?
How to say to pinch (with one's fingers) in Chinese
“to pinch (with one's fingers)” in Chinese is捏niē
The verb '捏' (niē) primarily means to pinch or knead something with one's fingers. It is often used in contexts involving shaping materials like dough or clay, as well as in metaphorical uses such as creating or fabricating a story. The nuance involves a physical action that conveys a sense of control and manipulation.
When to use 捏
'捏' is often confused with '夹' (jiā), which means to clip or pinch in a different context, such as between two objects. It is generally used in informal settings, but it can appear in more formal discussions of culinary or artistic techniques. Be careful with tone; the second tone 'niē' must be pronounced accurately to avoid confusion.
捏 or something close to it
捏 (pinch) vs 挤 (squeeze) — use 捏 when shaping or manipulating with fingers, while 挤 implies applying pressure to extract or compress.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '捏' with '拿' (ná), which means to hold. For example, saying '我拿面团' (I hold the dough) instead of '我捏面团' (I knead the dough) is incorrect. Remember, '捏' involves a more active manipulation.
Write 捏
捏
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Practice writing 捏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 捏
捏 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 4 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我把手伸到桌子的另一边，____住他的手。
I reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
Example sentences for 捏 (22)
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1
我把手伸到桌子的另一边，捏住他的手。
wǒ bǎshou shēn dào zhuōzi de lìng yìbiān， niē zhù tā de shǒu。
I reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
2
索尔特捏住包的外角，把它倒过来晃了晃。
Suǒ ěr tè niē zhù bāo de wài jiǎo， bǎ tā dào guòlái huǎng le huǎng。
Salter held the bag by the corners and shook it upside down.
