內 (nèi) - Inside, inner, internal & within

內Tone 4

nèi ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 入

楠念

內 · nèi

Inside, inner, internal;

within;

to enter;

the imperial court;

one's wife or female relatives.

Inside, inner, internalwithinto enter

Usage highlights

InsideDomesticInternal affairsContentIndoorHeart

Synonyms

  • 里— inside, within
  • 内部— interior, inside part
  • 内面— inner side, interior

Antonyms

  • 外— outside, external
  • 表— surface, exterior

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The book is inside the room (在房间内).
  • Internal affairs of a country (内政).
  • Domestic flights (国内航班).
  • My wife (内人).

Collocations

  • Inside(内部)
  • Domestic(国内)
  • Internal affairs(内政)
  • Content(内容)
  • Indoor(室内)
  • Heart(内心)

Idioms

  • Fierce-looking outside but soft-hearted inside(外强中干)
  • Internal and external troubles(内忧外患)
  • To be torn by internal strife(内讧)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, '内' referred to the inner chambers of a house, often associated with women and domestic life.
  • Historically used to refer to the imperial court or the central government.
  • In some contexts, it can refer to one's wife or female family members, reflecting traditional gender roles.

FAQ