About
The character 讷, whose traditional form is 訥, is structurally composed of the semantic component 言 (speech) combined with the phonetic component 內 (inside), a construction that directly informs its core meaning. This etymology suggests speech that is held inward, leading to its classical definition denoting slowness or hesitancy in speaking, often implying a degree of verbal awkwardness or difficulty. Over time, however, the meaning associated with the character experienced a significant shift in certain philosophical and literary contexts, particularly within Confucian discourse, where this same quality of careful, deliberate, and unhurried speech was reinterpreted as a positive virtue, a sign of prudence, sincerity, and earnestness rather than mere ineptitude. Thus, while its fundamental link to manner of speech remained constant, its connotation evolved from describing a simple lack of fluency to embodying a cultivated rhetorical restraint.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他平时很木讷。
这个孩子有点讷。
他讷讷地说了几句话。
在社交场合，他总显得木讷。
尽管他木讷寡言，但内心丰富。
他看到陌生人时，就会变得讷口少言。
由于性格木讷，他不善交际，却擅长思考。
在众人面前，他那木讷的样子常被误解为冷漠，实则不然。