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Kotomora

寧

rather, preferably, peaceful, quiet, tranquility

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • ネイ

Kun'yomi

  • むし.ろ

Nanori

  • あき
  • やす
  • やすし
  • よし

Meaning

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.

Most common words using 寧

20 of 21
  • 寧ろむしろ
    N3

    rather; better; instead; if anything

  • 丁寧ていねい
    N4

    polite; courteous; civil

  • 安寧あんねい

    (public) peace; stability; tranquility; tranquillity

  • ご丁寧ごていねい

    polite; courteous; civil

  • バカ丁寧ばかていねい

    overly polite; excessively polite; polite to a fault

  • 丁寧体ていねいたい

    polite style; polite Japanese

  • 丁寧懇切ていねいこんせつ

    kind, careful, and thorough (of an explanation, advice, etc.); thoughtful and scrupulous

  • 丁寧語ていねいご

    polite language (e.g. masu, desu)

  • 南寧なんねい

    Nanning (China)

  • 安寧秩序あんねいちつじょ

    peace and order; law and order

  • 寧夏回族自治区ねいかかいぞくじちく

    Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (China)

  • 寧日ねいじつ

    peaceful day

  • 寧波ねいは

    Ningbo (China)

  • 寧静ねいせい

    calm; peace; tranquility

  • 常寧殿じょうねいでん

    ladies' pavilion (of the inner Heian Palace)

  • 康寧こうねい

    tranquility; tranquillity; peacefulness

  • 懇切丁寧こんせつていねい

    kind, careful, and thorough (of an explanation, advice, etc.); thoughtful and scrupulous

  • 西寧せいねい

    Xining (China)

  • 遼寧大学りょうねいだいがく

    Liaoning University

  • 遼寧省りょうねいしょう

    Liaoning Province (China)

Explore all words using 寧 →

Study

Etymology

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.

Meaning mnemonic

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.

Reading mnemonic

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.