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颞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
颞nièthe temporal bonen, 16 strokes, radical 页, rank #16660, Very Hard
颞nièbones of the temple (on the human head)unknown, 16 strokes, radical 页, rank #16660, Very Hard
niè(nie4) T4
  1. 1the temporal bone
  2. 2bones of the temple (on the human head)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

颞(顳)niè(nie4)

The character 颞 (niè) refers to the temporal bone, which is located at the sides and base of the skull. This bone is crucial for the structure of the head and supports the temples, making it a key term in anatomy and medicine, particularly in discussions about the human skull.

Strokes16Radical页Frequency#16660DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the temples are believed to be points of energy flow, linking physical health with holistic practices. Understanding terms like 颞 can enhance one's grasp of both modern and traditional medical discussions in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 颞 as a 'neck' (the top part of the character resembles a neck) supporting the 'temple' (the meaning) on the sides of a person's head. Picture a neck holding up a temple structure, emphasizing its location by the sides of the head.

Meanings of 颞

niè(nie4)
1the temporal bone
2bones of the temple (on the human head)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 颞

颞Simplified
顳Traditional
16Strokes
页Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 颞

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Podcast: 颞

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AI Study Notes for 颞

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in a medical context, so it may not be familiar in everyday conversation. Learners should be careful with pronunciation, as it is a less common term and may sound similar to other words. Be sure to practice the fourth tone to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

While 颞 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to HSK-level terms in anatomy and health. Students should focus on understanding how it fits into anatomical vocabulary, linking it to other body parts they may encounter in their studies.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 颞 with similar characters due to its sound. For example, mixing it up with 顳 (tiáo) can lead to miscommunication about anatomical terms. Always double-check the tone and context when using it.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 颞

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Etymology of 颞

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

Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 聂 represents the sound. Simplified form of 顳.

Memory Hint

head

Semantic (meaning)页
+
Phonetic (sound)聂
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 颞

Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 聂 represents the sound. Simplified form of 顳.

  1. 1The meaning half页 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half聂 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhead
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 颞? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 颞?

Decomposition of 颞

IDS Structure⿰聂页
颞Full Character
=
聂Nie4
left
页ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 颞?

How to say the temporal bone in Chinese

“the temporal bone” in Chinese is颞niè

The character 颞 (niè) refers to the temporal bone, which is located at the sides and base of the skull. This bone is crucial for the structure of the head and supports the temples, making it a key term in anatomy and medicine, particularly in discussions about the human skull.

When to use 颞

This term is primarily used in a medical context, so it may not be familiar in everyday conversation. Learners should be careful with pronunciation, as it is a less common term and may sound similar to other words. Be sure to practice the fourth tone to avoid confusion.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 颞 with similar characters due to its sound. For example, mixing it up with 顳 (tiáo) can lead to miscommunication about anatomical terms. Always double-check the tone and context when using it.

Write 颞

颞

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 颞

Words Containing This Character3
颞niètemple (the sides of human head)顳
颞叶temporal lobe顳葉
颞骨temporal bone顳骨
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 颞 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 颞

The temporal bone houses structures critical for hearing and balance, and it protects the brain.

Jason Recommends

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