Definition
念 (niàn) has three common meanings: to read aloud (more general than 朗读 and without the 'from memory' focus of 背诵), to study a subject or attend a school (colloquial, similar to 读 but 读 is broader), and to miss someone (more emotional than 想, but less formal than 怀念 or 思念).
verb
to read aloudto reciteto study (a subject)to attend (a school)to miss (someone)to think of
Measure word · 顿
Easily confused
- 含hánlook-aliketo keep in the mouth
- 年niánsound-alikeyear
- 贪tānlook-alike(verb) to covet, to be greedy for (e.g., money, pleasure)
- 黏niánsound-alikesticky, glutinous
- 撵niǎnsound-aliketo drive away, to shoo (informal)
Examples
- 念。Qǐng niàn yí biàn zhè piān wénzhāng.Please read this article aloud once.
- 念。Tā niàn le sì nián dàxué.He attended university for four years.
- Wǒ hěn xiǎngniàn wǒ de lǎo péngyou.I really miss my old friend.
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