Chinese word

弄

Pronunciation

Pinyinnòng

Meaning

  • verbdo

Example

别随便弄别人的东西。bié suí biàn nòng bié rén de dōng xī

Don't do whatever you like with other people's things.

Illustration for 弄 (do)

More examples

他不小心把杯子弄坏了。tā bù xiǎo xīn bǎ bēi zi nòng huài le

He accidentally broke the cup.

Core concept

Someone works on an object or task with the hands, tools, or a chosen method until it is changed, arranged, or otherwise dealt with.

Common phrases

  • 弄干净nòng gān jìng

    clean

  • 弄丢nòng diū

    lose

  • 弄坏nòng huài

    break

Similar words

做zuò: Perform an action, task, or piece of work.
摸mō: Touch something with the hand to feel or check it.
拿ná: Grasp, hold, or carry something with the hand.
玩wán: Use or touch something for fun while playing.

Definition in Chinese

指用手、工具或方法对事物做动作使其改变状态，也可指随便地做某事。zhǐ yòng shǒu gōng jù huò fāng fǎ duì shì wù zuò dòng zuò shǐ qí gǎi biàn zhuàng tài yě kě zhǐ suí biàn dì zuò mǒu shì

Word origin

The older form of 弄 (nòng, "handle or do") shows two hands working with jade, a concrete picture that broadened into handling things and carrying out actions.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, the exact action is often left unstated and a following result word supplies the important detail, so learning common combinations gives this short verb a clearer meaning.

Other meanings

  • mess withverb
  • put in orderverb

Related words

  • 摆弄bǎi nòngfiddle withverb
  • 弄清楚nòng qīng chǔfigure outverb

Word lists with this word