宁

寕/寧/甯
nìng, níng
丁 + 宀

Definitions

nìng (adverb) would rather; prefer
níng (adjective) peaceful; calm
níng (verb) to pacify; to visit (relatives)

Etymology

Pictograph of a container for storing things. Original form of 貯. In simplified Chinese 宁 is also used to mean "peaceful", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 寧.

Semantic: 宀 Phonetic: 丁

About

The character 宁 is a simplified form of the traditional character 寧, which originally combined the roof radical 宀, a heart 心, a dish 皿, and the phonetic element 丁. This structure visually conveyed a sense of peace and domestic security, food in a dish, a heart at rest, all sheltered under a roof. The simplified version retains only the roof radical 宀 over the phonetic 丁, yet it preserves the core meanings of peacefulness and serenity in modern usage.

Example Sentences Hide

安宁的生活很可贵。

Ānníng de shēnghuó hěn kěguì.

A peaceful life is precious.

今晚的街道格外宁静。

Jīnwǎn de jiēdào géwài níngjìng.

The streets are especially quiet tonight.

我们宁愿走路也不坐车。

Wǒmen nìngyuàn zǒulù yě bù zuòchē.

We would rather walk than take the car.

妈妈宁可自己辛苦点。

Māma nìngkě zìjǐ xīnkǔ diǎn.

Mom would rather bear the hardship herself.

他心神不宁地走来走去。

Tā xīnshén bù níng de zǒu lái zǒu qù.

He walked back and forth, feeling restless.

我宁愿相信他是无心的。

Wǒ nìngyuàn xiāngxìn tā shì wúxīn de.

I would rather believe he didn't mean it.

与其苟且偷生，宁死不屈。

Yǔqí gǒuqiě tōushēng, nìng sǐ bù qū.

Rather than living in dishonor, they would die before yielding.

这项工程宁缓勿急，务必保证质量。

Zhè xiàng gōngchéng nìng huǎn wù jí, wùbì bǎozhèng zhìliàng.

This project should prioritize slowness over haste; quality must be guaranteed.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

拧 狞 泞 柠 咛 聍 貯 詝 苧 竚 紵 羜 佇

Component: 丁

可 打 顶 灯 订 厅 盯 亭 钉 叮 汀 町 酊 仃

Component: 宀

家 定 实 它 安 完 字 官 容 察 客 室 宗 富

Example Words

列宁 南宁 安宁 宁可 宁波 宁静 宁愿 辽宁 鸡犬不宁 丹宁 南宁市 咸宁 大宁 威宁 宁夏 宁德 宁死不屈 宁波市 宁海 宁缺勿滥 宁缺毋滥 宁肯 宁静致远 广宁