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March 24, 2026
嫩nèn(nen4)
The character 嫩 (nèn) primarily means tender, soft, or delicate, often used to describe textures, such as young plants or tender meats. It can also refer to someone who is inexperienced or unskilled in a particular area. In contexts involving color, it denotes a light or soft hue.
Strokes14Radical女Frequency#7421DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the term 嫩 is often used to describe meat that is cooked just right, such as in the famous dish '嫩滑的鸡肉' (tender chicken), highlighting the cultural appreciation for texture in food.
Memory Tip
Imagine a young, tender plant that is so soft it can be easily crushed. The character 嫩 has the '女' (nǚ) radical, which signifies femininity or delicacy, combined with '嫩' indicating softness. Picture a gentle woman nurturing delicate flowers, reinforcing the idea of tenderness.
Meanings of 嫩
nèn(nen4)
1tender
2soft
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 嫩
嫩Simplified
14Strokes
女Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#7421Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 嫩
Podcast: 嫩
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AI Study Notes for 嫩
Quick Contrast
嫩 (tender) vs 软 (soft) — choose 嫩 when describing food or young plants, while 软 is more general for any soft texture.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a young, tender plant that is so soft it can be easily crushed. The character 嫩 has the '女' (nǚ) radical, which signifies femininity or delicacy, combined with '嫩' indicating softness. Picture a gentle woman nurturing delicate flowers, reinforcing the idea of tenderness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 嫩 with similar-sounding characters like 恩 (ēn), which means grace. 嫩 is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can appear in formal discussions about food or art as well. Common collocations include 嫩肉 (nènròu - tender meat) and 嫩叶 (nènyè - tender leaves).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 嫩 connects with other words describing qualities and states. Focus on its application in both physical descriptions and metaphorical uses, particularly in contexts discussing skill and experience.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the term 嫩 is often used to describe meat that is cooked just right, such as in the famous dish '嫩滑的鸡肉' (tender chicken), highlighting the cultural appreciation for texture in food.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嫩 (nèn) with 硬 (yìng), which means hard. For example, saying '嫩的石头' (nèn de shítou - tender rock) is incorrect; it should be '硬的石头' (yìng de shítou - hard rock).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嫩
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Grammar Patterns of 嫩
嫩 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 8 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这在黎巴____的近代史上是个特别困难的时期。
This had been a particularly difficult chapter in Lebanon's recent history.
Example Sentences for 嫩 (10)
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1
这在黎巴嫩的近代史上是个特别困难的时期。
zhè zài lí bā nèn de jìn dài shǐ shàng shì gè tè bié kùn nán de shí qī。
This had been a particularly difficult chapter in Lebanon's recent history.
2
这块肉很好，又瘦又嫩。
zhè kuài ròu hěn hǎo， ， yòu shòu yòu。
It is a beautiful meat, very lean and tender.
3
这种面膜能使你的皮肤变得柔软细嫩。
zhè zhǒng miàn mó néng shǐ nǐ de pí fū biàn dé róu ruǎn xì nèn。
This mask leaves your complexion feeling soft and supple.
Cook pieces of succulent chicken with ample garlic and a little sherry.
5
我正在把那些小嫩苗分装进有分格的盘子里。
wǒ zhèng zài bǎ nà xiē xiǎo nèn miáo fēn zhuāng jìn yǒu fēn gé de pán zǐ lǐ。
I was spacing out the seedlings into divided trays.
6
嫩牛排配蘑菇 --1 美元2角5分.
nèn niú pái pèi mó gū--1 --1 měi2 yuán5 2.
Sirloin steak with mushrooms -- one twenty - five. "
7
春天一近, 树上长出了嫩叶.
chūn tiān yī jìn, , shù shàng cháng chū le nèn.
As spring approaches, the trees begin to send forth tender buds.
8
三个月后,那一团愈发繁茂的绿蔓里边,发出一种尖又娇嫩的呜叫.
sān gè yuè hòu, , nà yī tuán yù fā fán mào de lǜ màn lǐ, biān , fā chū yī zhǒng jiān yòu jiāo nèn de.
Three months later I heard a sharp yet delicate peep from behind the lush leaves.
9
我在我自己手中拿着,像捧着一朵娇嫩的花.
wǒ zài wǒ zì jǐ shǒu zhōng ná zháo, , xiàng pěng zháo yī duǒ jiāo nèn de.
When I touched it with my hand it was like cupping a delicate , tender flower.
10
他把她比作嫩枝上的一朵淡淡的金花.
tā bǎ tā bǐ zuò nèn zhī shàng de yī duǒ dàn dàn de jīn huā.
He likened her to a pale gold flower upon a slender stem.
Cultural Notes for 嫩
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, the term 嫩 is often used to describe meat that is cooked just right, such as in the famous dish '嫩滑的鸡肉' (tender chicken), highlighting the cultural appreciation for texture in food.
Word Family of 嫩
Words Containing This Character15
嫩nèntender
黎巴嫩Lebanon
稚嫩puerile
娇嫩fragile嬌嫩
细嫩tender細嫩
白嫩delicate
柔嫩tender
嫩芽soft shoot
嫩绿tender green嫩綠
嫩江Nenjiang county in Heihe 黑河[Hēihé], Heilongjiang
嫩叶tender leaves嫩葉
细皮嫩肉smooth-skinned細皮嫩肉
嫩江县Nenjiang county in Heihe 黑河[Hēihé], Heilongjiang嫩江縣
巴尔克嫩德Jan Pieter Balkenende (1956-), prime minister of the Netherlands from 2002巴爾克嫩德
嫩江地区Nenjiang county in Heihe 黑河[Hēihé], Heilongjiang嫩江地區
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嫩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嫩
Yes, it can describe someone who is inexperienced or unskilled, often in a playful or affectionate way.
No, while it often describes food or plants, it can also refer to qualities in people and colors.
Think of 'nèn' as sounding similar to 'nen', like a soft 'n' sound that fits its meaning.
