rather, preferably, peaceful, quiet, tranquility
寧 centers on a state of calm and preference: peaceful, quiet, and tranquil, with the idea of choosing something as preferable or rather doing one thing over another.
寧 combines 寍 (a component associated with peace and tranquility) with 丁, which may have contributed a phonetic element. The exact historical development is uncertain.
The top part 寍 suggests a roof over a heart and a net, like a calm, protected space. The bottom 丁 looks like a nail holding everything still. Together, 寧 is a peaceful, quiet place where you'd rather be.
For ネイ, imagine a peaceful neigh from a quiet horse resting in a tranquil stable: neigh -> ネイ, and the calm scene matches the kanji's meaning.
rather; better; instead; if anything
polite; courteous; civil
(public) peace; stability; tranquility; tranquillity
polite; courteous; civil
overly polite; excessively polite; polite to a fault
polite style; polite Japanese
kind, careful, and thorough (of an explanation, advice, etc.); thoughtful and scrupulous
polite language (e.g. masu, desu)
Nanning (China)
peace and order; law and order
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (China)
peaceful day
Ningbo (China)
calm; peace; tranquility
ladies' pavilion (of the inner Heian Palace)
tranquility; tranquillity; peacefulness
kind, careful, and thorough (of an explanation, advice, etc.); thoughtful and scrupulous
Xining (China)
Liaoning University
Liaoning Province (China)