Dictionary › 呢

呢

ne

Old HSK 1 HSK 3.0 character level 1 Character

呢 (ne) means "particle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word ("What about ...?", "And ...?")". It is an HSK 3.0 level 1 word, and was HSK 1 in the old six-level list.

What 呢 means

1. (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?")
2. (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation still holds
3. (discourse particle) used to mark a slight pause or emphasis in speech

How 呢 is used in grammar

呢 is a grammar word. Each link goes to its own section: what it does in that pattern, the structure, three example sentences with pinyin, and the mistake to avoid.

• Progressive Aspect: 在/正在 ... 呢 (HSK 1)
• Progressive Action: 正在…(呢) — Right Now (HSK 2)
• Question Methods: 好吗、是不是、吧、呢 ellipsis (HSK 2)

The official HSK 3.0 grammar outline lists it at level 1, particles (语气助词); level 2, particles (语气助词).

Other readings

呢 is 多音字 — it is read more than one way, and the reading changes the meaning.

• nídense wool fabric (used for coats and jackets)

Example sentences

• 您呢？
  How about you?
• 你呢？
  How about you?
• 人呢？
  Where did he go?
• 你们呢？
  How about you?
• 那你呢?
  How about you?
• 你爸呢？
  How about your father?

Words starting with 呢

• 呢喃ní nán(onomatopoeia) twittering of birds; whispering; murmuring
• 呢呢ní nígarrulous; talkative
• 呢子ní zidense wool fabric (used for coats and jackets)
• 呢呢痴痴ní ní chī chīdocile
• 呢喃细语ní nán xì yǔwhispering in a low voice (idiom); murmuring

Words containing 呢

• 着呢zhe necomes at the end of the sentence to indicate a strong degree; quite; rather
• 花呢huā nífancy suiting
• 制服呢zhì fú ní(textiles) uniform coating; durable, warm fabric used for uniforms
• 格子呢gé zi níchecked woolen fabric; plaid
• 台面呢tái miàn ní(billiards) baize
• 管他呢guǎn tā nedon’t worry about (it, him etc); doesn’t matter; whatever
• 华达呢huá dá ní(loanword) gabardine
• 怎么说呢zěn me shuō neWhy is that?; How come?
• 格子花呢gé zi huā nítartan; plaid
• 软呢ruǎn nísoft, pliable wool fabric
• 唵嘛呢叭咪吽ǎn má ní bā mī hōngom mani padme hum (Buddhist mantra)

Characters that look like 呢

Easy to confuse on sight. Compare them side by side once and the pair stops costing you.

• 现xiànto appear; present; now
• 规guīcompass; a rule; regulation
• 便biànplain; informal; suitable
• 荣róngglory; honor; thriving
• 绕ràoto wind; to coil (thread); to rotate around
• 呃è(exclamation); to hiccup

Where 呢 is taught

In the GraphChinese course it is part of Function Words and Adverbs (HSK 1), HSK 1 Characters · Set 9 (HSK 1), each one a topic in the dependency graph of HSK 1–6 that opens only once its prerequisites are solid.

Go deeper

• Every HSK 1 word, with the rest of its level.
• How characters are built from components.
• How to learn Chinese characters.
• The four tones and the neutral tone, to read ne correctly.
• Look up another word in the free dictionary.