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擰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
擰níngscrew, wrench; to pinch, to twist, to wringx, 17 strokes, radical 扌
níng(ning2) T2
  1. 1screw, wrench; to pinch, to twist, to wring
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March 24, 2026

擰níng(ning2)

The character 擰 (níng) primarily means 'to twist' or 'to screw,' often referring to actions that involve turning or pinching something. It can also denote the act of wringing out water from clothes or materials. Common contexts include mechanical actions or manipulative gestures requiring a twisting motion.

Strokes17Radical扌
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of twisting or wringing is often associated with traditional methods of cleaning clothes, where twisting is a common technique to remove excess water before drying.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wrench (the tool) twisting a bolt. The character 擰 resembles a person (the top part) using a wrench (the bottom part, with the 'twisting' motion) to tighten a screw. Remember 'níng' as you visualize the action of tightening something with a tool.

Meanings of 擰

níng(ning2)
1screw, wrench; to pinch, to twist, to wring
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 擰

擰Simplified
17Strokes
扌Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 擰

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Podcast: 擰

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AI Study Notes for 擰

Quick Contrast

扭 (niǔ) - use 擰 (níng) when referring specifically to twisting or screwing something tightly, while 扭 (niǔ) is broader and can refer to twisting in various contexts, including bending.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 擰 with similar characters like 拧 (níng), which also means 'to twist' but in a more informal context. This character is more appropriate in formal or technical discussions. Common collocations include 擰瓶盖 (níng píng gài), meaning 'to twist the bottle cap.'

HSK Study Tips

While 擰 is not included in HSK levels, it aligns well with vocabulary related to actions and tools. For learners at HSK 3 and above, focus on phrases involving mechanical actions or daily tasks to reinforce its usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 擰 in place of 拧 in casual conversations. For example, saying '我来帮你 擰 这个瓶盖' (I will help you twist this bottle cap) is correct, but using 拧 here is more common and natural.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 擰

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Etymology of 擰

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)寧
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

擰 = 扌 + 寧. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 擰

IDS Structure⿰扌寧
擰Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
寧ning2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 擰?

How to say screw, wrench; to pinch, to twist, to wring in Chinese

“screw, wrench; to pinch, to twist, to wring” in Chinese is擰níng

The character 擰 (níng) primarily means 'to twist' or 'to screw,' often referring to actions that involve turning or pinching something. It can also denote the act of wringing out water from clothes or materials. Common contexts include mechanical actions or manipulative gestures requiring a twisting motion.

When to use 擰

Be careful not to confuse 擰 with similar characters like 拧 (níng), which also means 'to twist' but in a more informal context. This character is more appropriate in formal or technical discussions. Common collocations include 擰瓶盖 (níng píng gài), meaning 'to twist the bottle cap.'

擰 or something close to it

扭 (niǔ) - use 擰 (níng) when referring specifically to twisting or screwing something tightly, while 扭 (niǔ) is broader and can refer to twisting in various contexts, including bending.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 擰 in place of 拧 in casual conversations. For example, saying '我来帮你 擰 这个瓶盖' (I will help you twist this bottle cap) is correct, but using 拧 here is more common and natural.

Write 擰

擰

Practice writing 擰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 擰

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

Characters with 擰

What does 拧 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 擰

Both characters mean 'to twist,' but 擰 is more formal and technical, while 拧 is used in everyday contexts.

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