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咛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
咛níngto enjoin, to instruct; to chargex, 8 strokes, radical 口
níng(ning2) T2
  1. 1to enjoin, to instruct; to charge
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March 24, 2026

咛(嚀)níng(ning2)

The character 咛 (níng) means to enjoin or instruct someone, often carrying a sense of earnestness or importance in the directive. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is giving a serious charge or recommendation, emphasizing the need for adherence to the instruction.

Strokes8Radical口
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of giving serious instructions or warnings is often viewed as a sign of care and responsibility. This character reflects the importance placed on following guidance in hierarchical relationships, such as between teachers and students.

Memory Tip

Think of 咛 (níng) as a 'ninja' (sounds like 'níng') quietly instructing their apprentice on a secret mission. The radical '口' (kǒu) represents speech, indicating that this character involves verbal communication of important instructions.

Meanings of 咛

níng(ning2)
1to enjoin, to instruct; to charge
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 咛 means.

About 咛

咛Simplified
嚀Traditional
8Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 咛

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Podcast: 咛

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AI Study Notes for 咛

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 咛 (níng) in contexts that require a formal or serious tone, as it may not be suitable for casual conversation. It often appears in literature or formal speeches, so learners should pair it with appropriate verbs like '告诫' (gàojiè) meaning 'to warn.'

HSK Study Tips

While 咛 (níng) is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it shares thematic connections with words related to commands and instructions at higher levels. Students should focus on recognizing its use in formal contexts and how it complements more common action verbs.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 咛 (níng) with similar sounding characters like 宁 (níng), which means 'peaceful' or 'calm.' Remember that 咛 relates specifically to instruction and advice, not tranquility.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 咛

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Etymology of 咛

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

mouth

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

Origin

咛 = 口 + 宁. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 咛

IDS Structure⿰口宁
咛Full Character
=
口kou3
left
宁Ning2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 咛?

How to say to enjoin, to instruct; to charge in Chinese

“to enjoin, to instruct; to charge” in Chinese is咛níng

The character 咛 (níng) means to enjoin or instruct someone, often carrying a sense of earnestness or importance in the directive. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is giving a serious charge or recommendation, emphasizing the need for adherence to the instruction.

When to use 咛

Be careful to use 咛 (níng) in contexts that require a formal or serious tone, as it may not be suitable for casual conversation. It often appears in literature or formal speeches, so learners should pair it with appropriate verbs like '告诫' (gàojiè) meaning 'to warn.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 咛 (níng) with similar sounding characters like 宁 (níng), which means 'peaceful' or 'calm.' Remember that 咛 relates specifically to instruction and advice, not tranquility.

Write 咛

咛

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

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Word Family of 咛

Words Containing This Character2
叮咛to warn叮嚀
咛níngto enjoin嚀
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 咛

What does 叮咛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 咛

No, 咛 is more often used in formal contexts, such as literature or serious discussions.

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