泥 (ní) - Mud, clay, mire & paste-like substance

泥Tone 2

ní ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 氵

楠念

泥 · ní

Mud, clay, mire;

paste-like substance;

also read as nì meaning stubborn, obstinate.

Mud, clay, mirepaste-like substancealso read as nì meaning stubborn, obstinate.

Usage highlights

MudClayMuddyClay sculpturePlasterMudslide

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 清— clear, pure (opposite of muddy)
  • 净— clean (opposite of dirty)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The car got stuck in the mud (泥).
  • Children like to play with clay (泥巴).
  • He made a sculpture from clay (泥塑).
  • The wall was covered with plaster (泥灰).

Collocations

  • Mud(泥)
  • Clay(泥巴)
  • Muddy(泥泞)
  • Clay sculpture(泥塑)
  • Plaster(泥灰)
  • Mudslide(泥石流)

Idioms

  • Drag through mud and water(拖泥带水)
  • Muddied head and dirty face(泥头垢面)
  • Like clay and ashes(泥涂炭)
  • Mud ox entering sea(泥牛入海)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, mud/clay represents humble origins and basic materials, as seen in the myth of Nüwa creating humans from clay.
  • The character appears in idioms describing inefficiency (拖泥带水) and futility (泥牛入海).
  • Clay has been fundamental in Chinese pottery and ceramics for millennia.

FAQ