乃

廼
nǎi
丿 + 𠄎
HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

nǎi (adverb) therefore; thus; so; then
nǎi (verb) to be

Etymology

Possibly depicts a woman standing sideways with her breasts protruding. Based on the original meaning "breast", now written as 奶. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

乃 possibly originated as a depiction of a woman standing sideways with protruding breasts, and its original meaning "breast" is now written 奶. Through phonetic loan, the character shed this concrete sense and came to be used exclusively for grammatical functions. In classical Chinese, it acts as a second-person pronoun ("you" or "your"), as a conjunction or adverb marking a sequential relationship ("then", "hence"), and as an emphatic copula ("is indeed", "is precisely").

Example Sentences Hide

这乃是事实。

Zhè nǎi shì shìshí.

This is indeed the fact.

他乃是我们班长。

Tā nǎi shì wǒmen bānzhǎng.

He is indeed our class monitor.

我乃公司经理。

Wǒ nǎi gōngsī jīnglǐ.

I am the company manager.

此乃最佳选择。

Cǐ nǎi zuì jiā xuǎnzé.

This is the best choice.

他失败乃因准备不足。

Tā shībài nǎi yīn zhǔnbèi bùzú.

His failure is due to insufficient preparation.

这个问题乃至老师都无法解答。

Zhège wèntí nǎizhì lǎoshī dōu wúfǎ jiědá.

This problem even the teacher cannot answer.

他之所以成功，乃是因为不断努力。

Tā zhī suǒyǐ chénggōng, nǎi shì yīnwèi bùduàn nǔlì.

The reason he succeeded is because of continuous effort.

此次会议之重要性，乃在于凝聚共识。

Cǐ cì huìyì zhī zhòngyào xìng, nǎi zàiyú níngjù gòngshí.

The importance of this meeting lies in building consensus.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

仍 秀 奶 扔 孕 氖 隽 艿 鼐 尕 釢 礽 朶

Component: 丿

方 么 力 向 儿 水 系 少 必 展 万 师 失 千

Example Words

乃至 木乃伊 乃是 乃东 乃尔 吉木乃 安乃近 康乃馨