念诵 (niàn sòng) — to recite, to chant (a text, scripture, poem, etc.); (rare, formal) to mention someone fondly when speaking to another

Definition

念诵 means to recite or chant a written text aloud — scriptures, poems, formal writings — usually from memory or by rote. It emphasizes vocal delivery of a fixed text, more formal than everyday 读.

verb
to reciteto chant (a text, scripture, poem, etc.)(rare, formal) to mention someone fondly when speaking to another

Examples

  • 念诵。
    Tā měi tiān zǎo chén dōu huì niàn sòng yí duàn fó jīng.
    He recites a passage of Buddhist scripture every morning.
  • 念诵。
    Lǎo shī ràng quán bān tóng xué yì qǐ niàn sòng zhè shǒu gǔ shī.
    The teacher had the whole class recite this ancient poem together.
  • ，念诵。
    Yí shì shàng, zhǔ chí rén niàn sòng le jì wén.
    During the ceremony, the host recited the eulogy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

念niànrecite
诵sòngchant

念 means to recite and 诵 means to chant aloud, so together they mean recite or chant.

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 →

Most 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 誦; 诵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng誦sòng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 誦 pairs 言 (words) with 甬 to give the sound; the simplified 诵 is a later shorthand.

Open 诵 →

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