讷 (nè) — (bound form) stammer, speak haltingly; also slow or taciturn in speech (as in 木讷)
Definition
讷 (nè) is a bound form meaning 'slow, halting in speech' — it almost always appears in the set word 木讷 (mùnè, 'woodenly taciturn'). Rare on its own; don't use it as a standalone verb.
bound form
stammerspeak haltinglyalso slow or taciturn in speech (as in 木讷)
Examples
- ，。Tā xìng gé mù nè, bú ài shuō huà.He is taciturn and doesn't like to talk.
- 讷，。Tā shuō huà nè nè, yǒu xiē jǐn zhāng.He stammers when speaking, a bit nervous.
- 讷，。Tā nè yú yán cí, dàn xīn dì shàn liáng.He is slow of speech, but kind-hearted.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 訥; 讷 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
內
內nèi訥nè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 訥 pairs 言 (speech) with 內 to give the sound; the simplified 讷 is a later shorthand.
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