Meanings of 讷
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Podcast: 讷
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AI Study Notes for 讷
笨 (bèn, foolish) vs 慢 (màn, slow) — choose 讷 when specifically referring to speech difficulties rather than general slowness or foolishness.
This character is generally used in more formal contexts. Be cautious with its tone, as it can come off as critical if used to describe someone's speech negatively. Common collocations include '讷言' (nèyán - slow speech) and '讷语' (nèyǔ - inarticulate language).
While 讷 is not an HSK level word, it connects with concepts of speech and communication found in lower levels. Students should focus on recognizing it in written contexts and understanding its connotations related to speech fluency.
Learners often confuse 讷 with similar-sounding words like 乞 (qǐ - beg) due to pronunciation similarities. Remember, 讷 specifically relates to speech fluency, while 乞 has a different meaning altogether.
Pronunciation of 讷
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Learning Lab
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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.
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Etymology of 讷
Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 内 represents the sound. Simplified form of 訥.
speech
Origin
讷 = 讠 + 内. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 讷
Parts
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How to say inarticulate, slow; to mumble, to stammer in Chinese
“inarticulate, slow; to mumble, to stammer” in Chinese is讷
The character 讷 (nè) refers to someone who is inarticulate or speaks slowly. It often describes a person who may mumble, stammer, or struggle to express thoughts verbally, highlighting a lack of fluency or confidence in speech. Common contexts include discussing someone's speaking style or evaluating their communication skills.
When to use 讷
This character is generally used in more formal contexts. Be cautious with its tone, as it can come off as critical if used to describe someone's speech negatively. Common collocations include '讷言' (nèyán - slow speech) and '讷语' (nèyǔ - inarticulate language).
讷 or something close to it
笨 (bèn, foolish) vs 慢 (màn, slow) — choose 讷 when specifically referring to speech difficulties rather than general slowness or foolishness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 讷 with similar-sounding words like 乞 (qǐ - beg) due to pronunciation similarities. Remember, 讷 specifically relates to speech fluency, while 乞 has a different meaning altogether.
Write 讷
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Practice writing 讷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 讷
讷 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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.
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方鸿 渐 ____讷道: “ 不, 还有你表妹. ”
Fang Hung - chien said hesitatingly , " No, your cousin is also coming. "
Example Sentences for 讷 (1)
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Word Family of 讷
Words with 讷
What does 木讷 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 讷
You can say '他讲话很讷' (tā jiǎnghuà hěn nè) meaning 'He speaks very slowly/inarticulately.'
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