寧
rather, preferably, peaceful, quiet, tranquility
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)
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.