Meanings of 宁
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 宁
Podcast: 宁
Podcast: 宁
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 宁
宁 (níng) vs 宁愿 (nìngyuàn) — use 宁 when expressing a simple preference, while 宁愿 emphasizes a stronger willingness or choice.
Imagine a calm, peaceful lake ('宁' looks like a gentle wave) where you would rather spend your day than in a crowded city. The pronunciation 'níng' sounds like 'ning' in 'ring', as if you're choosing to wear a calming ring instead of a noisy bracelet.
Be careful not to confuse 宁 with similar-sounding characters. It is often used in formal contexts when expressing preference, such as '宁可' (prefer to) or '宁愿' (would rather). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
Although 宁 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects to HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary related to choices and preferences, such as 喜欢 (xǐ huān - to like) and 选择 (xuǎn zé - to choose). Focus on its use in sentences to express preference.
宁 is often used in traditional Chinese sayings that emphasize peace and tranquility, reflecting the cultural value placed on calmness and harmony in daily life. For example, the phrase '宁静' (níng jìng) means 'peaceful' and is frequently used in literature.
Learners often mix up 宁 with similar characters, leading to confusion in meaning. For example, saying '我宁喜欢这个' (I宁 like this) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我宁愿喜欢这个' (I would rather like this).
Pronunciation of 宁
Drill the tone of 宁 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 宁
Simplified form of 寧. Phonosemantic compound. 丁 represents the sound and the other components represent the meaning. The traditional component 心 was removed for simplification. The traditional component 皿 was removed for simplification.
roof
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 宁?
Decomposition of 宁
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 宁?
Write 宁
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 宁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 宁
宁 carries 18 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
to prefer to do something
...
宁愿我自己受苦，也不让你受苦。
I would rather suffer myself than let you suffer.
Complete the Sentence
他____可自己吃苦，也不愿意让家人受委屈。
He would rather suffer himself than let his family be mistreated.
Common Confusions with 宁
宁 is an old variant of 寧, which has similar pronunciation.
宁静 means calm or peaceful, while 宁 implies preference.
我宁静的生活。
宁静 means calm or peaceful, while 宁 implies preference.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "would rather"?
Example Sentences for 宁 (10)
Cultural Notes for 宁
宁 is often used in traditional Chinese sayings that emphasize peace and tranquility, reflecting the cultural value placed on calmness and harmony in daily life. For example, the phrase '宁静' (níng jìng) means 'peaceful' and is frequently used in literature.
Word Family of 宁
Compound Meaning
What does 柠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 宁
宁 (nìng) is the simplified version of the traditional character 寧 (níng). While both characters have the same pronunciation and meaning relating to peace or preference, 宁 is used in mainland China and 寧 in regions that use traditional characters, like Taiwan and Hong Kong.