念 niàn to think of
to think of; to recall; to study; to read; to attend
How to remember 念: 今 now + 心 heart = to think of. Right now, far from home, the student puts a hand on her heart and smiles, wanting to think of her mother's kitchen.
Component breakdown
念 = 今 now + 心 heart
- 今 now
- 𠆢 tent
- 丶 a drop
- 乛 cap
- 心 heart
Right now, far from home, the student puts a hand on her heart and smiles, wanting to think of her mother's kitchen.
How it is used
- 念 as a verb means to think of/miss someone, most commonly in 想念 (xiǎngniàn) - 我很想念你 (wǒ hěn xiǎngniàn nǐ) I miss you a lot.
- 怀念 (huáiniàn) is more nostalgic/reflective, used for missing a past time, place, or someone who has passed away, whereas 想念 is the everyday word for missing a person you can still contact.
- 念书 (niànshū) is a colloquial way of saying "to study/attend school" (在北京念书 studying in Beijing), distinct from 念 alone which by itself usually means "to read aloud" in older or formal usage.
- 概念 (gàiniàn) "concept" and 观念 (guānniàn) "notion/mindset" are unrelated abstract-noun compounds built on the same character.
Words with 念
- 想念xiǎngniànto missHSK 5
- 概念gàiniànconceptHSK 5
- 纪念jìniànto commemorateHSK 5
- 纪念日jìniànrìday of commemorationHSK 5
- 观念guānniànnotionHSK 5
- 信念xìnniànfaithHSK 6
- 念书niànshūto readHSK 6
- 怀念huáiniànto cherish the memory ofHSK 6
- 思念sīniànto think ofHSK 6
- 理念lǐniànideaHSK 6
- 念头niàntouthoughtHSK 8
- 念念不忘niànniàn-búwàngto keep in mind constantly (idiom)HSK 8
- 悬念xuánniànsuspense in a movie, play etcHSK 8
- 悼念dàoniànto grieveHSK 8
- 挂念guàniànto feel anxious aboutHSK 8
- 留念liúniànto keep as a souvenirHSK 9
- 纪念碑jìniànbēimonumentHSK 9
Example sentences
- 我念小学五年级。 Wǒ niàn xiǎoxué wǔ niánjí.I'm in the fifth grade in elementary school.