Chinese word

念

Pronunciation

Pinyinniàn

Meaning

  • verbread aloud

Example

请把这段课文念一遍。qǐng bǎ zhè duàn kè wén niàn yí biàn

Please read this passage aloud once.

Illustration for 念 (read aloud)

More examples

她一边做家务一边在心里念着明天的计划。tā yì biān zuò jiā wù yì biān zài xīn lǐ niàn zhe míng tiān de jì huà

As she did housework, she thought about tomorrow's plans.

Core concept

Giving sustained attention to words, lessons, or ideas through the voice or the mind.

Common phrases

  • 念出声niàn chū shēng

    read out loud

  • 念生词niàn shēng cí

    read new vocabulary

  • 念一遍niàn yí biàn

    read through once

Similar words

读dú: Reads written words with the eyes to understand their meaning.
朗读lǎng dú: Reads written material aloud in a clear voice.
背bèi: Memorizes material so it can be recited from memory.

Definition in Chinese

把文字用口读出或在内心反复读诵以帮助记忆，亦用于诵经或上学读书的动作。bǎ wén zì yòng kǒu dú chū huò zài nèi xīn fǎn fù dú sòng yǐ bāng zhù jì yì yì yòng yú sòng jīng huò shàng xué dú shū de dòng zuò

Word origin

念 (niàn, "read aloud") is written as 今 (jīn, "now") + 心 (xīn, "heart/mind"), with 心 suggesting that something is held in the mind before the word develops toward reciting, reading, and study.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, 念 (niàn, "read aloud") usually takes a clear object, so naming the text, book, or other material makes the activity clear.

Other meanings

  • studyverb
  • thinkverb
  • reciteverb

Word lists with this word