About
The character "尼" originates from a pictographic composition representing a figure in a crouched or bent posture, which in its earliest usage conveyed the idea of an elderly or revered woman, possibly in a position of rest or deference. This conceptual structure, composed of elements meaning "corpse" and an archaic form for "spoon" or "old woman", was later borrowed for its phonetic value to transcribe the Sanskrit syllable "ni" in Buddhist terminology, most notably in the term for a Buddhist nun, "尼姑" (nígū). Over time, this religious association became the character's primary meaning in modern Chinese, while its original connotation of an elderly female relative receded from common use. The character's traditional form is identical to its simplified counterpart, and its graphical structure has remained largely consistent.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
那位尼姑很善良。
这件衣服是尼龙的。
尼泊尔是一个美丽的国家。
香烟中含有尼古丁。
尼罗河是世界上最长的河流。
威尼斯是意大利的水城。
印尼的巴厘岛很有名。
尼采的哲学思想影响深远。