呢

ne, ní
口 + 尼
HSK 2.0Level 1
HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

ne (particle) question particle ("What about...?", "And...?"); pause particle for emphasis; particle indicating continuation of state or action
ní (noun) woolen material; wool fabric

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 尼 represents the sound. 口 (mouth) indicates that the character is only "mouthed", i.e. only used for its phonetic value.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 尼

About

呢 is a phonosemantic compound: 口 (mouth) on the left marks it as a "mouthed" character used solely for its sound, while 尼 on the right provides the pronunciation. It primarily serves as a sentence‑final particle to form questions, indicate ongoing actions, or add emphasis and a conversational tone. A separate reading means "woolen cloth", where it functions as a phonetic loan to transliterate foreign textile terms.

Example Sentences Hide

你在做什么呢？

Nǐ zài zuò shénme ne?

What are you doing?

他正在看书呢。

Tā zhèngzài kànshū ne.

He is reading a book.

你喜欢咖啡，我呢？

Nǐ xǐhuān kāfēi, wǒ ne?

You like coffee, what about me?

天气很好，我们去公园呢？

Tiānqì hěn hǎo, wǒmen qù gōngyuán ne?

The weather is good, shall we go to the park?

如果你不去，那我怎么办呢？

Rúguǒ nǐ bù qù, nà wǒ zěnme bàn ne?

If you don't go, then what should I do?

他说他明天来，可是今天还没到呢。

Tā shuō tā míngtiān lái, kěshì jīntiān hái méi dào ne.

He said he would come tomorrow, but he hasn't arrived today.

你怎么能这样说话呢？

Nǐ zěnme néng zhèyàng shuōhuà ne?

How can you talk like that?

虽然遇到困难，但我们还是要坚持努力呢。

Suīrán yùdào kùnnán, dàn wǒmen háishì yào jiānchí nǔlì ne.

Although we encounter difficulties, we still need to persist and work hard.

Related Characters

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Component: 尼

泥 妮 昵 伲 怩 旎 铌 坭 柅 秜 鈮

Example Words

呢呢 呢喃 呢子 花呢 着呢