讷

訥

nè

内 + 讠

Definitions

nè to speak slowly; inarticulate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 内 represents the sound. Simplified form of 訥.

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 内

About

讷 is the simplified form of 訥, a phono-semantic compound that combines the speech radical (言/讠, yán) with the phonetic 内 (nèi). In the traditional form, the radical is 言 and the phonetic 內; the simplified uses 讠 and 内. The character describes a slow, hesitant, or inarticulate manner of speaking. The phonetic 内, meaning 'inside,' suggests words that remain within, resulting in a reticent or halting verbal delivery.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他平时很木讷。

Tā píngshí hěn mùnè.

He is usually very reticent.

这个孩子有点讷。

Zhège háizi yǒudiǎn nè.

This child is a bit inarticulate.

他讷讷地说了几句话。

Tā nènè de shuōle jǐ jù huà.

He hesitantly said a few words.

在社交场合，他总显得木讷。

Zài shèjiāo chǎnghé, tā zǒng xiǎnde mùnè.

In social situations, he always appears reticent.

尽管他木讷寡言，但内心丰富。

Jǐnguǎn tā mùnè guǎyán, dàn nèixīn fēngfù.

Although he is reticent and taciturn, he has a rich inner world.

他看到陌生人时，就会变得讷口少言。

Tā kàndào mòshēngrén shí, jiù huì biànde nè kǒu shǎo yán.

When he sees strangers, he becomes inarticulate and speaks little.

由于性格木讷，他不善交际，却擅长思考。

Yóuyú xìnggé mùnè, tā bù shàn jiāojì, què shàncháng sīkǎo.

Due to his reticent personality, he is not good at socializing, but he is good at thinking.

在众人面前，他那木讷的样子常被误解为冷漠，实则不然。

Zài zhòngrén miànqián, tā nà mùnè de yàngzi cháng bèi wùjiě wéi lěngmò, shízé bùrán.

In front of others, his reticent appearance is often mistaken for indifference, but actually it's not.

Related Characters

Component: 内

Component: 讠

讷