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March 24, 2026
訥nè(ne4)
The character 訥 (nè) describes a state of being inarticulate or having difficulty expressing oneself clearly. It conveys an idea of slowness in speech, often associated with mumbling or stammering. This term is commonly used to describe someone who struggles to communicate effectively due to nervousness or lack of fluency.
Strokes11Radical言
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, effective communication is highly valued; thus, the concept of being 訥 is often looked upon with empathy rather than judgment. This reflects the cultural importance placed on social harmony and understanding.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person trying to speak but their tongue feels heavy like a stone, making them 'mumble' as they talk. The character 訥 has the radical 言 (yán), which means 'speech,' hinting at its connection to communication and articulation. Visualizing a heavy stone tied to the tongue can help you remember the sound 'nè' and its meaning related to speech difficulties.
Meanings of 訥
nè(ne4)
1inarticulate, slow; to mumble, to stammer
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 訥
訥Simplified
11Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 訥
Podcast: 訥
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AI Study Notes for 訥
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 訥 with similar-sounding words. It is primarily used in informal contexts and can convey a sense of sympathy toward someone’s struggle with speech. Common collocations include 訥言 (nè yán), meaning 'inarticulate speech.'
HSK Study Tips
While 訥 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it aligns with the themes of communication found in beginner levels. Students should focus on recognizing its components and how it relates to other words about speech and expression.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 訥 with similar sounding characters like 内 (nèi), which means 'inside.' A common mistake is using 訥 to mean 'quiet,' which is incorrect; instead, use 安静 (ān jìng) for 'quiet.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 訥
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Etymology of 訥
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 内 represents the sound. Simplified form of 訥.
訥 = 言 + 内. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 訥
IDS Structure⿰言内
訥Full Character
=
言yan2
left
内nei4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 訥?
How to say inarticulate, slow; to mumble, to stammer in Chinese
“inarticulate, slow; to mumble, to stammer” in Chinese is訥nè
The character 訥 (nè) describes a state of being inarticulate or having difficulty expressing oneself clearly. It conveys an idea of slowness in speech, often associated with mumbling or stammering. This term is commonly used to describe someone who struggles to communicate effectively due to nervousness or lack of fluency.
When to use 訥
Be cautious not to confuse 訥 with similar-sounding words. It is primarily used in informal contexts and can convey a sense of sympathy toward someone’s struggle with speech. Common collocations include 訥言 (nè yán), meaning 'inarticulate speech.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 訥 with similar sounding characters like 内 (nèi), which means 'inside.' A common mistake is using 訥 to mean 'quiet,' which is incorrect; instead, use 安静 (ān jìng) for 'quiet.'
Write 訥
訥
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Word Family of 訥
Words Containing This Character8
讷nèinarticulate訥
木讷slow-speeched木訥
讷河Nehe county level city in Qiqihar 齊齊哈爾|齐齐哈尔[Qíqíhā'ěr], Heilongjiang訥河
讷讷mumbling訥訥
讷河市Nehe county level city in Qiqihar 齊齊哈爾|齐齐哈尔[Qíqíhā'ěr], Heilongjiang訥河市
基希讷乌Chişinău or Chisinau, capital of Moldova基希訥烏
木讷寡言honest and unaffected but not talkative (idiom)木訥寡言
刚毅木讷resolute and taciturn (idiom)剛毅木訥
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 訥
What does 讷 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 訥
It is pronounced as 'nè', with the 'n' sound followed by a falling tone.
No, 訥 is more suitable for informal contexts and is often used to describe someone struggling with speech.
Yes, it can describe someone who is shy and finds it hard to speak clearly.
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