DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

內在

简内在 · 繁內在

Mandarin · pinyin nèi zài

inner
internal
intrinsic
innate

Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

內: nèi · inside, interior; domestic
在: zài · be at, in, on; consist in, rest
内: nèi · inside

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

4–4 · nei4 zai4

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

3character links

Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗

Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

內在 · find source passages ↗ · 内在 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 3 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

noi6 zoi6

Cantonese word readings for 內在. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

adj

(attributive) inherent; intrinsic; internal; inner; immanent
closely-guarded; not easily disclosed

noun

inner self; one's intrinsic qualities

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack