拈
twirl, twist, twiddle, wring
Strokes8
Readings
On'yomi
- ネン
- セン
- デン
Kun'yomi
- ひね.る
Meaning
拈 centers on a small, controlled turning motion with the fingers: twirling, twisting, twiddling, or wringing something.
Most common words using 拈
- 拈華微笑ねんげみしょう
heart-to-heart communication; thought transference; holding a flower and subtly smiling
Study
Etymology
拈 combines 扌 (hand) with 占, which likely contributes the sound. The character expresses a twisting or twirling action done by hand.
Meaning mnemonic
The hand radical 扌 beside 占 suggests fingers occupied with a small object, twirling or twisting it between them.
Reading mnemonic
For ネン, imagine twirling a pen between your fingers while thinking: pen -> ネン, and the hand twirls it.