捻

niǎn

念 + 扌

Definitions

niǎn to twirl (in the fingers)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 念 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 念

About

The character 捻 is a phono-semantic compound: it combines the semantic radical 扌, a shorthand for 手 'hand', with the phonetic component 念. The hand radical signals that the meaning relates to a manual action, and 念 cues the pronunciation. The primary sense is to twist, twirl, or pinch something between the fingers, such as rolling a thread, pinching a lamp wick to shape it, or kneading a small bit of dough. A secondary usage refers to picking up or lightly holding something with the fingers. In all cases, the character describes precise fingertip control and the handling of small, pliable items.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她捻着花瓣玩。

Tā niǎn zhe huā bàn wán.

She is playing with petals by twisting them.

爷爷捻胡子思考。

Yéye niǎn húzi sīkǎo.

Grandpa twists his beard while thinking.

我捻碎了一片树叶。

Wǒ niǎn suì le yī piàn shùyè.

I crushed a leaf by twisting.

妹妹捻线捻得很仔细。

Mèimei niǎn xiàn niǎn de hěn zǐxì.

My younger sister twists thread very carefully.

他捻熄了手中的香烟。

Tā niǎn xī le shǒu zhōng de xiāngyān.

He pinched out the cigarette in his hand.

厨师捻了一点盐放进汤里。

Chúshī niǎn le yīdiǎn yán fàng jìn tāng lǐ.

The chef pinched a bit of salt and put it into the soup.

她轻轻捻起掉在地上的针。

Tā qīngqīng niǎn qǐ diào zài dìshàng de zhēn.

She gently picked up the needle that fell on the ground by pinching it.

老艺人用手指捻出精美的陶艺作品。

Lǎo yìrén yòng shǒuzhǐ niǎn chū jīngměi de táo yì zuòpǐn.

The old artisan uses his fingers to twist out exquisite pottery works.

Related Characters

Component: 念

Component: 扌

捻