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念 (niàn) — to read aloud; to recite; to study (a subject); to attend (a school); to miss (someone); to think of

Definition

念 has three unrelated senses: read aloud/recite, attend (school), and miss someone. For 'miss,' 想 is everyday and lighter, while 思念 and 怀念 are more literary and emotional.

verb
to read aloudto reciteto study (a subject)to attend (a school)to miss (someone)to think of
Measure word · 顿
Easily confused

Examples

  • 念。
    Qǐng niàn yí biàn zhè piān wén zhāng.
    Please read this article aloud once.
  • 念。
    Tā niàn le sì nián dà xué.
    He attended university for four years.
  • Wǒ hěn xiǎng niàn wǒ de lǎo péng you
    I really miss my old friend.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5School & EducationReading & Writing3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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