Chinese word

嫩

Pronunciation

Pinyinnèn

Meaning

  • adjectivetender

Example

这个鸡肉很嫩。zhè ge jī ròu hěn nèn

This chicken is very tender.

Illustration for 嫩 (tender)

More examples

他做事的手法还很嫩，需要多练习。tā zuò shì de shóu fǎ hái hěn nèn xū yào duō liàn xí

He is still inexperienced in how he does things and needs more practice.

Core concept

A soft, delicate condition that yields easily and has not yet acquired toughness, maturity, or experience.

Common phrases

  • 很嫩hěn nèn

    very tender

  • 嫩肉丝nèn ròu sī

    tender strips of meat

Similar words

软ruǎn: Having a soft texture that changes shape easily under pressure.
柔软róu ruǎn: Having a supple texture that bends easily and returns with gentle spring.

Definition in Chinese

指食物或其他物体的质地柔软、易咬或嫩滑；也可引申为人或植物年轻、柔弱或未成熟的状态。zhǐ shí wù huò qí tā wù tǐ de zhì dì róu ruǎn yì yǎo huò nèn huá yě kě yǐn shēn wéi rén huò zhí wù nián qīng róu ruò huò wèi chéng shú de zhuàng tài

Word origin

The word developed from the idea of youth and delicate new growth to include food that remains soft and easy to bite, with the shared notion of not yet being hardened by time.

Usage tips

  • With meat, this word praises easy chewing and a smooth texture, so it describes the result of cooking rather than whether the food was recently bought or prepared.

Other meanings

  • freshadjective
  • youngadjective
  • inexperiencedadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 嫩白nèn báiyouthfully fairadjective
  • 嫩滑nèn huátender and smoothadjective

Word lists with this word