DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

呢

Mandarin · pinyin ne#

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

Mandarin · pinyin ní#

dense wool fabric (used for coats and jackets)

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Characters in this entry

呢: ne · interrogative or emphatic final; (Cant.) this

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

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Mandarin tones

5 · ne5

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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.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 16 senses · 5 Cantonese readings

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

le1 · ne1 · nei1 · nei4 · ni1

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

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

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

character · Etymology 1

Sentence-final particle indicating a reciprocal question; used to apply the previously asked question to a new subject. What about ...?; And ...?
Sentence-final particle indicating a reciprocal question; used to apply the previously asked question to a new subject. What about ...?; And ...? — Where is ...?; Where are ...?
Sentence-final particle signalling a pause, to emphasize the preceding words.
Sentence-final particle indicating continuation of an action or state, English present continuous. to be ...-ing
Sentence-final particle used to make questions more indirect, to give the impression that the speaker is speaking to themselves.
(Shanghainese) Sentence-final particle expressing anger.

character · Etymology 2

used in 呢喃 (nínán)
woollen cloth (for heavy clothing)

character · Etymology 3

(Cantonese) this

character · Etymology 4

(Cantonese) hey; Used to raise attention of the listener

character · Etymology 5

(Hong Kong Cantonese, gaming) level (in a video game)
(Hong Kong Cantonese, figuratively) level in a society; social class

character · Etymology 6

sound
(alt-of, alternative) alternative form of 䛏 (ní)

character · Etymology 7

only used in 唵嘛呢叭咪吽 (ǎn mānī bēimēi hōng)

character · Etymology 8

(Southern Min) Used in some question words.

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

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