撚 (niǎn) - To twist or twirl with fingers & to fiddle with

撚Tone 3

niǎn ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

楠念

撚 · niǎn

To twist or twirl with fingers;

to fiddle with;

to play with;

vulgar slang for male masturbation.

To twist or twirl with fingersto fiddle withto play with

Usage highlights

Twist threadTwist beardFiddle with fingersPlay with somethingRoll into a ballTwist rope

Synonyms

  • 捻— To twist or roll with fingers (more neutral term)
  • 搓— To rub or twist between hands
  • 揉— To knead or rub

Antonyms

  • 松— To loosen or relax
  • 放— To release or let go

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She twisted the thread into a rope (撚线).
  • He fiddled with his pen during the meeting (撚笔).
  • The cat played with the ball of yarn (撚毛线球).
  • This term has vulgar connotations in modern usage (撚手).

Collocations

  • Twist thread(撚线)
  • Twist beard(撚须)
  • Fiddle with fingers(撚指)
  • Play with something(撚弄)
  • Roll into a ball(撚成团)
  • Twist rope(撚绳)

Idioms

  • Twisting the beard while composing poetry(撚须吟诗)
  • Lighting a lamp to read at night(撚灯夜读)
  • Fiddling with fingers while thinking(撚指沉思)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally described the action of twisting fibers into thread or rope, an important traditional craft.
  • In classical poetry and literature, often depicted scholars twisting their beards while deep in thought.
  • Has acquired strong vulgar connotations in modern Cantonese and Mandarin slang, limiting its use in formal contexts.

FAQ