Translingual
edit
Glyph origin
edit
|
Old Chinese
|
泥
|
*niːl, *niːls
|
屔
|
*niːl
|
苨
|
*niːlʔ
|
坭
|
*niːlʔ
|
迡
|
*niːls
|
埿
|
*braːms, *niːl, *niːls
|
旎
|
*nilʔ
|
狔
|
*nilʔ
|
抳
|
*nilʔ
|
尼
|
*nil
|
呢
|
*nil
|
怩
|
*nil
|
柅
|
*nil, *nilʔ
|
蚭
|
*nil
|
跜
|
*nil
|
秜
|
*nil
|
痆
|
*rniːd
|
昵
|
*niɡ
|
Phono-semantic compound (形聲/形声, OC *nil) : semantic 口 (“mouth”) + phonetic 尼 (OC *nil)
Etymology 1
edit
Ota (1987) suggests that the particle used in questions comes from 聻 (MC nriX) [Five Dynasties], a particle which may come from 爾 (MC nyeX, “that”), and that the particle used to indicate an action in progress comes from earlier 哩 [Yuan dynasty], which may come from 裏 (MC liX, “place”) [Tang dynasty–Five Dynasties].
Pronunciation
edit
Definitions
edit
呢
- Sentence-final particle indicating a reciprocal question; used to apply the previously asked question to a new subject. What about ...?; And ...?
- 你呢? ― Nǐ ne? ― How about you?
- 噉我呢? [Cantonese] ― gam2 ngo5 ne1? [Jyutping] ― What about me?
- 你覺得呢?/你觉得呢? ― Nǐ juéde ne? ― What do you think?
你爸爸好嗎?你媽媽呢? [MSC, trad.]
你爸爸好吗?你妈妈呢? [MSC, simp.]- Nǐ bàba hǎo ma? Nǐ māma ne? [Pinyin]
- How is your father? And your mom?
- Sentence-final particle signalling a pause, to emphasize the preceding words.
今天我倆值日,我這兒正掃著地,他呢,一溜煙兒跑了。 [MSC, trad.]
今天我俩值日,我这儿正扫着地,他呢,一溜烟儿跑了。 [MSC, simp.]- Jīntiān wǒ liǎ zhírì, wǒ zhèr zhèng sǎo zhe dì, tā ne, yīliūyānr pǎo le. [Pinyin]
- He and I were on cleaning duty today. I was sweeping the room when he got away in a flash.
- Sentence-final particle indicating continuation of an action or state, English present continuous. to be ...-ing
我們上漢語課呢。 [MSC, trad.]
我们上汉语课呢。 [MSC, simp.]- Wǒmen shàng hànyǔ kè ne. [Pinyin]
- We are attending a Chinese lesson.
- Sentence-final particle used to make questions more indirect, to give the impression that the speaker is speaking to themselves.
- 他去哪兒了呢?/他去哪儿了呢? ― Tā qù nǎr le ne? ― I wonder where he's going?
伊來呢勿來? [Shanghainese, trad.]
伊来呢勿来? [Shanghainese, simp.]- From: 2007, Qian Nairong, 上海话大词典, page 309
- 6yi 6le 0gni 8veq-le [Wugniu]
- Is he coming or not?
- (Shanghainese) Sentence-final particle expressing anger.
早點介講呢!到現在再講。 [Shanghainese, trad.]
早点介讲呢!到现在再讲。 [Shanghainese, simp.]- From: 2007, Qian Nairong, 上海话大词典, page 309
- 5tsau-ti 5ka 5kaon 0gni 5tau 6yi-ze 5tse 5kaon [Wugniu]
- You should have said it sooner, not now!
Usage notes
edit
When expressing an action in progress, 呢 can be used with 正在 (zhèngzài) and 著/着 (zhe) in a sentence. This is the full pattern. Each part is optional. The use of 呢 implies a contrastive mood.
我們正在上著漢語課呢。 [MSC, trad.]
我们正在上着汉语课呢。 [MSC, simp.]- Wǒmen zhèngzài shàng zhe hànyǔ kè ne. [Pinyin]
- But we are (still) in Chinese class now.
Compounds
edit
Etymology 2
edit
- “cloth”
- From French laine. In 《明史》, this word is also written as 嗹/𪡏. Cognate with Cantonese 冷 (laang5-1).
Pronunciation
edit
Note:
- nà̤ - “whispering”;
- nì - “cloth”.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
|
Character
|
呢
|
Reading #
|
1/1
|
No.
|
9429
|
Phonetic component
|
尼
|
Rime group
|
脂
|
Rime subdivision
|
1
|
Corresponding MC rime
|
尼
|
Old Chinese
|
/*nil/
|
Definitions
edit
呢
- Used in 呢喃 (nínán).
- woollen cloth (for heavy clothing)
- 呢絨/呢绒 ― níróng ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
Synonyms
edit
Dialectal synonyms of
呢子 (“woollen fabric”)
[map]
Compounds
edit
Etymology 3
edit
Substrate word. Compare:
- Proto-Tai *najꟲ (“this”): Zhuang neix (“this”), Thai นี้ (níi, “this”), Lao ນີ້ (nī, “this”)
- Proto-Mon-Khmer *niʔ ~ nih (“this”): Khmer នេះ (nih, “this”)
- Proto-Mon-Khmer *naaj (“deictic particle”): Khmer នាយ (niəy, “over there”), Vietnamese này, nầy (“this”), Vietnamese nay (“now”), Vietnamese nấy (“that”)
- Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔneinˣ (“this”): White Hmong no (“here, this”)
- Proto-Austronesian *nay (“deictic particle: this”), *qani (“proximal deictic: this”), *-ni (“proximal spatio-temporal deixis: this, here; now”): Malay ini (“this”).
Pronunciation
edit
Definitions
edit
呢
- (Cantonese) this
Usage notes
edit
- Unlike Mandarin 這/这 (zhè), 呢 cannot be used alone without a following classifier. See 呢個#Usage notes.
Synonyms
edit
Dialectal synonyms of
這 (“this”)
[map]
Variety
|
Location
|
Words
|
Classical Chinese
|
此, 斯, 是, 之, 茲 anteclassical, 夫, 爾
|
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)
|
這
|
Mandarin
|
Beijing
|
這
|
Taiwan
|
這
|
Tianjin
|
這
|
Chengde
|
這
|
Tangshan
|
這
|
Cangzhou
|
這
|
Baoding
|
這
|
Shijiazhuang
|
這
|
Chifeng
|
這
|
Hulunbuir (Hailar)
|
這
|
Heihe
|
這
|
Qiqihar
|
這
|
Jiamusi
|
這
|
Baicheng
|
這
|
Changchun
|
這
|
Tonghua
|
這
|
Shenyang
|
這
|
Dandong
|
這
|
Jinzhou
|
這
|
Dalian
|
這
|
Yantai
|
這
|
Qingdao
|
這
|
Lijin
|
這
|
Zhucheng
|
這
|
Jinan
|
這
|
Jining
|
這
|
Shangqiu
|
這
|
Yuanyang
|
這
|
Zhengzhou
|
這
|
Lingbao
|
這
|
Xinyang
|
這
|
Baihe
|
這
|
Hanzhong
|
這
|
Xi'an
|
這
|
Baoji
|
這
|
Yinchuan
|
這
|
Tianshui
|
這
|
Lanzhou
|
這
|
Dunhuang
|
這
|
Xining
|
這
|
Hami
|
這
|
Ürümqi
|
這
|
Wuhan
|
這
|
Yichang
|
這
|
Tianmen
|
這
|
Hong'an
|
這
|
Chengdu
|
這
|
Nanchong
|
這
|
Dazhou
|
這
|
Hanyuan
|
這
|
Xichang
|
這
|
Zigong
|
這
|
Chongqing
|
這
|
Guiyang
|
這
|
Zunyi
|
這
|
Bijie
|
這
|
Liping
|
這
|
Zhaotong
|
這
|
Dali
|
這
|
Kunming
|
這
|
Mengzi
|
這
|
Guilin
|
這
|
Liuzhou
|
這
|
Jishou
|
這
|
Changde
|
這
|
Xuzhou
|
這
|
Pizhou
|
這
|
Ganyu
|
這
|
Fuyang
|
這
|
Wuhu
|
這
|
Yangzhou
|
這
|
Baoying
|
這
|
Lianyungang
|
這
|
Donghai
|
這
|
Huai'an (Huaiyin)
|
這
|
Lianshui
|
這
|
Xuyi
|
這
|
Nanjing
|
這
|
Hefei
|
這
|
Nantong
|
這
|
Rugao
|
這
|
Yancheng
|
這
|
Funing
|
這
|
Sihong
|
這
|
Taizhou
|
這
|
Zhenjiang
|
這
|
Malaysia
|
這
|
Singapore
|
這
|
Cantonese
|
Guangzhou
|
呢, 依
|
Hong Kong
|
呢, 依
|
Macau
|
呢
|
Taishan
|
該
|
Dongguan
|
呢
|
Yangjiang
|
果
|
Nanning
|
阿
|
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)
|
呢
|
Singapore (Guangfu)
|
呢, 依
|
Gan
|
Nanchang
|
箇
|
Nanchang (Wangcheng)
|
箇
|
Anyi
|
箇
|
Lushan
|
箇
|
Duchang
|
箇
|
Wuning (Quankou)
|
該
|
Poyang
|
箇
|
Yugan
|
該
|
Wannian
|
該
|
Yanshan
|
這
|
Yichun
|
箇
|
Yifeng
|
箇
|
Gao'an
|
箇
|
Fengxin
|
箇
|
Shanggao
|
里
|
Wanzai
|
箇
|
Fengcheng
|
該
|
Xinyu
|
該
|
Fuzhou (Shangdundu)
|
該
|
Fuzhou (Dongxiang)
|
箇
|
Nancheng
|
箇
|
Nanfeng
|
箇
|
Yihuang
|
箇
|
Lichuan
|
該
|
Chongren
|
該
|
Pingxiang
|
該
|
Ji'an
|
蓋
|
Taihe
|
箇
|
Xiajiang
|
該
|
Yingtan (Yujiang)
|
箇
|
Guixi
|
箇
|
Jianning
|
個
|
Jinxian
|
箇
|
Jinxi
|
箇
|
Le'an
|
該
|
Guangchang
|
改
|
Suichuan
|
底
|
Wan'an
|
介
|
Jing'an
|
箇
|
Zhangshu
|
該
|
Xingan
|
個
|
Fenyi
|
改
|
Hakka
|
Changting
|
爾
|
Ninghua
|
只
|
Qingliu
|
這
|
Yudu
|
底
|
Ningdu
|
底
|
Ruijin
|
底
|
Shicheng
|
底
|
Xunwu
|
底
|
Huichang
|
底
|
Xingguo
|
界
|
Miaoli (N. Sixian)
|
這
|
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)
|
這
|
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)
|
這
|
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)
|
這
|
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)
|
這
|
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)
|
這
|
Hong Kong
|
這
|
Huizhou
|
Jixi
|
爾
|
Shexian
|
這
|
Wuyuan
|
伊
|
Jin
|
Taiyuan
|
這
|
Yangyuan
|
這
|
Datong
|
這
|
Xinzhou
|
這
|
Lishi
|
這
|
Linfen
|
這
|
Changzhi
|
這
|
Linhe
|
這
|
Jining
|
這
|
Hohhot
|
這
|
Erenhot
|
這
|
Pingshan
|
這
|
Zhangjiakou
|
這
|
Handan
|
這
|
Suide
|
這
|
Northern Min
|
Jian'ou
|
𱕇
|
Eastern Min
|
Fuzhou
|
只, 者, 嚽
|
Changle
|
這
|
Lianjiang
|
這
|
Fuqing
|
者
|
Pingtan
|
這
|
Yongtai
|
這
|
Minqing
|
這
|
Gutian
|
這
|
Pingnan
|
這
|
Luoyuan
|
這
|
Fu'an
|
這
|
Ningde
|
這
|
Xiapu
|
這
|
Zherong
|
這
|
Shouning
|
這
|
Zhouning
|
這
|
Fuding
|
這
|
Singapore (Fuqing)
|
這
|
Southern Min
|
Xiamen
|
這
|
Xiamen (Tong'an)
|
這
|
Quanzhou
|
只, 這
|
Jinjiang
|
這
|
Nan'an
|
這
|
Shishi
|
這
|
Hui'an
|
這
|
Anxi
|
這
|
Yongchun
|
這
|
Dehua
|
這
|
Zhangzhou
|
這
|
Zhangzhou (Longhai)
|
這
|
Zhangzhou (Changtai)
|
這
|
Hua'an
|
這
|
Nanjing
|
這
|
Pinghe
|
這
|
Zhangpu
|
這
|
Yunxiao
|
這
|
Zhao'an
|
只
|
Dongshan
|
這
|
Taipei
|
這
|
Kinmen
|
這
|
Penang (Hokkien)
|
這
|
Singapore (Hokkien)
|
這
|
Manila (Hokkien)
|
這
|
Longyan
|
迄好
|
Zhangping
|
這
|
Chaozhou
|
只
|
Shantou
|
只
|
Jieyang
|
只
|
Haifeng
|
只
|
Singapore (Teochew)
|
只
|
Batam (Teochew)
|
只
|
Wenchang
|
這
|
Haikou
|
這
|
Singapore (Hainanese)
|
這
|
Puxian Min
|
Putian
|
只蜀
|
Xianyou
|
只蜀
|
Central Min
|
Yong'an
|
這
|
Shaxian
|
這
|
Shaojiang Min
|
Guangze
|
當
|
Jiangle
|
者
|
Mingxi
|
只
|
Shunchang
|
這
|
Southern Pinghua
|
Nanning (Tingzi)
|
亞
|
Shehua
|
Cangnan
|
這
|
Jingning
|
個
|
Wu
|
Shanghai
|
搿, 迭 dated, 第 obsolete
|
Shanghai (Chongming)
|
吉, 講, 葛 also that
|
Shanghai (Songjiang)
|
搿
|
Suzhou
|
該, 搿
|
Suzhou (Shengze, Wujiang)
|
個
|
Wuxi
|
意
|
Changshu
|
俚
|
Jiaxing
|
葛
|
Jiashan
|
葛
|
Pinghu
|
葛
|
Haining (Yanguan)
|
葛
|
Tongxiang
|
葛
|
Haiyan
|
葛
|
Changzhou
|
資
|
Danyang
|
格
|
Gaochun
|
格
|
Huzhou
|
格
|
Changxing
|
格
|
Anji (Ancheng)
|
格
|
Deqing
|
葛
|
Hangzhou
|
葛
|
Hangzhou (Yuhang)
|
葛
|
Hangzhou (Lin'an)
|
葛
|
Hangzhou (Fuyang)
|
葛
|
Tonglu
|
葛
|
Tonglu (Wusheng)
|
個個
|
Shaoxing
|
咸
|
Zhuji
|
咸
|
Shengzhou
|
咸
|
Xinchang
|
咸
|
Ningbo
|
葛
|
Zhenhai
|
葛
|
Yuyao
|
耶
|
Cixi
|
葛
|
Huangyan
|
葛
|
Tiantai
|
葛
|
Sanmen
|
葛
|
Wenling
|
葛, 格
|
Wenzhou
|
個
|
Yueqing
|
個
|
Yongjia (Fenglin)
|
個
|
Rui'an
|
個
|
Pingyang
|
個
|
Taishun
|
這
|
Wencheng
|
個
|
Lishui
|
已
|
Qingtian
|
已
|
Jinyun
|
已
|
Songyang (Xiping)
|
益
|
Yunhe
|
益
|
Qingyuan
|
這
|
Longquan
|
搭
|
Suichang
|
益
|
Jiangshan
|
益
|
Changshan
|
益
|
Kaihua
|
益
|
Longyou
|
個
|
Jinhua
|
等, 待
|
Yiwu
|
吾
|
Yongkang
|
個
|
Pujiang
|
這, 吉
|
Dongyang
|
個
|
Wuyi
|
愛個
|
Lanxi
|
個
|
Shangrao
|
這
|
Shangrao (Guangfeng)
|
伊
|
Yushan
|
伊
|
Xiang
|
Changsha
|
咯
|
Shuangfeng
|
咯
|
Etymology 4
edit
Pronunciation
edit
Definitions
edit
呢
- (Cantonese) hey; Used to raise attention of the listener
Etymology 5
edit
From clipping of English level.
Pronunciation
edit
Definitions
edit
呢
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, gaming) levels (in a video game)
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, figuratively) levels in a society; social class
Compounds
edit
Etymology 6
edit
Pronunciation
edit
Definitions
edit
呢
- sound
- Alternative form of 䛏 (ní)
Etymology 7
edit
Pronunciation
edit
Definitions
edit
呢
- Only used in 唵嘛呢叭咪吽 (ǎn mānī bēimēi hōng).
Etymology 8
edit
Pronunciation
edit
Definitions
edit
呢
- (Southern Min) Used in some question words.
Compounds
edit
Japanese
edit
呢 (eum 니 (ni))
- This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text
{{rfdef}}
.
Vietnamese
edit
Han character
edit
呢: Hán Nôm readings: ni, nài, nấy, nê, nỉ, nì, này
- This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text
{{rfdef}}
.