嗫 (niè) - To speak hesitantly or in a low voice & to whisper

嗫Tone 4

niè ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

念柠

嗫 · niè

To speak hesitantly or in a low voice;

to whisper;

to mumble.

To speak hesitantly or in a low voiceto whisperto mumble.

Usage highlights

Speak hesitantlyWhisper and mumbleHesitant speechMutter to oneselfSpeak falteringlyWhispered conversation

Synonyms

  • 嚅— To move the mouth as if to speak; to hesitate in speech
  • 喃— To murmur; to mumble
  • 低语— To speak in a low voice; to whisper

Antonyms

  • 朗— Clear; loud and clear
  • 畅— Smooth; fluent
  • 洪亮— Loud and clear; sonorous

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He spoke hesitantly (嗫嚅着说).
  • She whispered a few words (嗫嚅了几句).
  • The child mumbled an apology (嗫嚅着道歉).
  • He muttered under his breath (低声嗫嚅).

Collocations

  • Speak hesitantly(嗫嚅)
  • Whisper and mumble(嗫嚅低语)
  • Hesitant speech(嗫嚅之言)
  • Mutter to oneself(独自嗫嚅)
  • Speak falteringly(嗫嚅而言)
  • Whispered conversation(嗫嚅交谈)

Idioms

  • To speak haltingly(嗫嗫嚅嚅)
  • Hesitant and inarticulate(嗫嚅不言)
  • Muttering and mumbling(嗫嚅低语)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character depicts hesitant speech, often associated with timidity, uncertainty, or secrecy.
  • Commonly used in literary contexts to describe characters who are nervous, shy, or speaking confidentially.
  • The reduplicated form '嗫嗫嚅嚅' emphasizes the hesitant, stumbling quality of speech.

FAQ