聂 (niè) - To whisper & a Chinese surname

聂Tone 4

niè ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

念柠

聂 · niè

To whisper;

a Chinese surname;

also used in names meaning 'quiet' or 'attentive'.

To whispera Chinese surnamealso used in names meaning 'quiet' or 'attentive'.

Usage highlights

Surname NieNie ErWhispering voiceNie RongNie FengNie Zheng

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He whispered quietly (聂声耳语).
  • The surname Nie is relatively rare (聂姓).
  • She listened attentively (聂耳倾听).
  • The famous composer Nie Er (聂耳).

Collocations

  • Surname Nie(聂姓)
  • Nie Er(聂耳)
  • Whispering voice(聂声)
  • Nie Rong(聂荣)
  • Nie Feng(聂风)
  • Nie Zheng(聂政)

Idioms

  • Nie Zheng assassinating the Han minister(聂政刺韩)
  • The story of Nie Yin(聂隐娘传奇)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • As a surname, Nie dates back to ancient times and appears in historical records.
  • The character's structure suggests multiple ears, implying attentiveness or whispering.
  • Nie Er (聂耳) was a famous early 20th-century Chinese composer known for the national anthem.

FAQ