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念念 (niàn niàn) — constantly thinking about; always remembering; repeatedly (in mind)

Definition

A bound adverbial meaning 'constantly in mind' — used to describe an ongoing mental hold on something, as in 念念不忘 or 念念在心. It's never used alone; pair it with 不忘, 在心, or similar.

bound form
constantly thinking aboutalways rememberingrepeatedly (in mind)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā duì zhè jiàn shì niàn niàn bú wàng.
    He never forgets this matter.
  • 念念。
    Tā niàn niàn dì xiǎng zhe huí jiā de lù.
    She constantly thinks about the way home.
  • 念念。
    Lǎo shī de huà wǒ niàn niàn zài xīn.
    I keep the teacher's words in mind.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

念niànthink
念niànthink

The two 念 together give the sense of thinking or remembering continuously.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

念 combines 今, an upside-down mouth, with 心, the heart, to listen to one's heart.

Open 念 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

念 combines 今, an upside-down mouth, with 心, the heart, to listen to one's heart.

Open 念 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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