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暱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
暱nìclose, intimate; to approachzg, 15 strokes, radical 日, rank #78596, Very Hard
nì(ni4) T4
  1. 1close, intimate; to approach
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March 24, 2026

暱nì(ni4)

The character 暱 (nì) conveys a sense of intimacy or closeness, often used to describe close relationships between people. It can also imply a sense of approaching someone or something in a personal manner, making it relevant in both social and emotional contexts.

Strokes15Radical日Frequency#78596DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, close relationships are often expressed through specific terms of endearment and nicknames, emphasizing the importance of intimacy in social interactions. The use of 暱 in relationships can signify trust and affection, reflecting deeper social values.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'knee' (nì) that bends closer to a friend, symbolizing intimacy and approach. The character has the radical for 'sun' (日) indicating warmth and closeness, combined with the character for 'you' (尔), suggesting a personal connection.

Meanings of 暱

nì(ni4)
1close, intimate; to approach
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 暱

暱Simplified
15Strokes
日Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 暱

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Podcast: 暱

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AI Study Notes for 暱

Quick Contrast

亲 (qīn) vs 暱 (nì): Use 暱 (nì) for a more personal or affectionate intimacy, while 亲 (qīn) can refer more broadly to familial or close relationships without the same emotional nuance.

Usage Notes

Be aware that 暱 is often used in more intimate or affectionate contexts, making it less suitable for formal situations. Common collocations include 暱稱 (nìchēng), which means 'nickname,' highlighting a personal connection. Ensure to use the correct tone; a mispronunciation may lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 暱 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its meaning relates closely to emotional expressions found in HSK Level 3 and 4 words like 亲密 (qīnmì) meaning 'close' or 'intimate.' Students should focus on the emotional nuances in relationships and practice using it in context with other intimate terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 暱 with similar words like 近 (jìn), which simply means 'near' without the emotional nuance. For example, saying '我和他很近' (Wǒ hé tā hěn jìn) might miss the intimacy that 暱 conveys.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 暱

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Etymology of 暱

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

Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 尼 represents the sound. Simplified form of 暱.

Memory Hint

sun

Semantic (meaning)日
+
Phonetic (sound)匿
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

暱 = 日 + 匿. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 暱

IDS Structure⿰日匿
暱Full Character
=
日Ri4
left
匿ni4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 暱?

How to say close, intimate; to approach in Chinese

“close, intimate; to approach” in Chinese is暱nì

The character 暱 (nì) conveys a sense of intimacy or closeness, often used to describe close relationships between people. It can also imply a sense of approaching someone or something in a personal manner, making it relevant in both social and emotional contexts.

When to use 暱

Be aware that 暱 is often used in more intimate or affectionate contexts, making it less suitable for formal situations. Common collocations include 暱稱 (nìchēng), which means 'nickname,' highlighting a personal connection. Ensure to use the correct tone; a mispronunciation may lead to misunderstandings.

暱 or something close to it

亲 (qīn) vs 暱 (nì): Use 暱 (nì) for a more personal or affectionate intimacy, while 亲 (qīn) can refer more broadly to familial or close relationships without the same emotional nuance.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 暱 with similar words like 近 (jìn), which simply means 'near' without the emotional nuance. For example, saying '我和他很近' (Wǒ hé tā hěn jìn) might miss the intimacy that 暱 conveys.

Write 暱

暱

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

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Word Family of 暱

Words Containing This Character5
昵nìfamiliar暱
亲昵intimate親暱
昵称nickname暱稱
狎昵intimate
昵爱intimacy昵愛
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 暱

What does 昵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 暱

It signifies a close and intimate relationship, often reflecting affection and trust.

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