唸 (niàn) - To read aloud & to recite

唸Tone 4

niàn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

念柠

唸 · niàn

To read aloud;

to recite;

to study;

to attend school;

to think of;

to miss.

To read aloudto reciteto study

Usage highlights

To read aloudTo recite a poemTo miss someoneTo study at schoolTo chant scripturesTo mumble to oneself

Synonyms

  • 念— To read; to study; to think of (Mainland standard variant)
  • 讀— To read; to study
  • 誦— To recite; to chant aloud

Antonyms

  • 忘— To forget
  • 默— Silent; unspoken

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is reading a book aloud (唸書).
  • The child is reciting a poem (唸詩).
  • I miss my hometown (唸故鄉).
  • She is studying at university (唸大學).

Collocations

  • To read aloud(唸書)
  • To recite a poem(唸詩)
  • To miss someone(唸某人)
  • To study at school(唸學校)
  • To chant scriptures(唸經)
  • To mumble to oneself(唸唸有詞)

Idioms

  • Muttering to oneself(唸唸有詞)
  • Never forget in thought(念念不忘)
  • Reading scriptures to a stubborn mule(對牛唸經)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally associated with recitation in classical education, particularly reading Confucian texts aloud.
  • Commonly used in Taiwanese and Southern Min dialects, often interchangeable with 念 in Mainland Standard Mandarin.
  • Implies vocalization in the act of reading or studying, not just silent reading.

FAQ