Chinese Dictionary

Usage of the character 寧

would rather
to prefer
how (emphatic)
Taiwan pr. (níng)

abbr. for Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 寧夏回族自治區／宁夏回族自治区 ( Ningxiá Huizú Zizhiqù)
abbr. for Nanjing 南京 ( Nánjing)
surname Ning

peaceful
to pacify
to visit (one's parents etc)

Ningguo, county-level city in Xuancheng 宣城 ( Xuānchēng), Anhui

quinine (loanword)

Tianning district of Changzhou city 常州市 ( Chángzhōushì), Jiangsu

Ninghua, a county in Sanming City 三明市 ( Sānming Shì), Fujian

Taining, a county in Sanming City 三明市 ( Sānming Shì), Fujian

Chinning township in Kinmen County 金門縣／金门县 ( Jīnménxiàn) (Kinmen or Quemoy islands), Taiwan

Ningwu county in Xinzhou 忻州 ( Xīnzhōu), Shanxi

Ningxiang county in Changsha 長沙／长沙 ( Chángshā), Hunan

Zhengning county in Qingyang 慶陽／庆阳 ( Qìngyáng), Gansu

Changning, county-level city in Hengyang 衡陽／衡阳 ( Héngyáng), Hunan

Xingning, county-level city in Meizhou 梅州, Guangdong
Xingning District of Nanning City 南寧市／南宁市 ( Nánníng Shì), Guangxi

Ningyuan county in Yongzhou 永州 ( Yǒngzhōu), Hunan

Huaining, a county in Anqing 安慶／安庆 ( Anqīng), Anhui

Xinning county in Shaoyang 邵陽／邵阳 ( Shàoyáng), Hunan

Huining county in Baiyin 白銀／白银 ( Báiyín), Gansu

Ningqiang County in Hanzhong 漢中／汉中 ( Hànzhōng), Shaanxi

Yongbyon (Ryeongbyeon), site of North Korean nuclear reactor

Ningcheng County of Chifeng 赤峰 ( Chìfēng), Inner Mongolia

Nanning, prefecture-level city and capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in south China 廣西壯族自治區／广西壮族自治区

Zhang Ning (1975-), PRC female badminton player and Olympic gold medalist

Changning county in Baoshan 保山 ( Bǎoshān), Yunnan

Ningbo subprovincial city in Zhejiang

Jining prefecture-level city in Shandong

Ningjin county in Xingtai 邢台 ( Xíngtái), Hebei

Shanghai and Nanjing

Funing county in Qinhuangdao 秦皇島／秦皇岛 ( Qínhuángdǎo), Hebei

Haining, county-level city in Jiaxing 嘉興／嘉兴 ( Jiāxīng), Zhejiang

Changning County in Yibin 宜賓／宜宾 ( Yíbīn), Sichuan
Changning District in Shanghai

Ningdu county in Ganzhou 贛州／赣州 ( Gànzhōu), Jiangxi

Shouning county in Ningde 寧德／宁德 ( Níngdé), Fujian

would rather ... (than ...)

abbr. for 寧蒗彞族自治縣／宁蒗彝族自治县, Ninglang Yizu autonomous county in Yunnan

Ningming county in Chongzuo 崇左 ( Chóngzuǒ), Guangxi

variant of 叮嚀／叮咛 (dīngníng)

Jianning, a county in Sanming City 三明市 ( Sānming Shì), Fujian

Jingning Shezu autonomous county in Lishui 麗水／丽水 ( Líshuǐ), Zhejiang

(loanword) denim
tannin

Li Ning (1963-), PRC gymnast, winner of three gold medals at Los Angeles 1984 Olympic games

former Ninggang county in Jiangxi, now within Jinggangshan, county-level city 井岡山市／井冈山市 ( Jǐnggāngshānshì) in Ji'an 吉安, Jiangxi

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924), Russian revolutionary leader

Yining city and county or Ghulja nahiyisi in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture 伊犁哈薩克自治州／伊犁哈萨克自治州 ( Yīlí Hāsàkè Zìzhìzhōu), Xinjiang

Jiangning district of Nanjing City 南京市 in Jiangsu 江蘇／江苏

Ninghe county in Tianjin 天津 ( Tiānjīn)

Ning'an, county-level city in Mudanjiang 牡丹江, Heilongjiang

Fengning Manchu autonomous county in Chengde 承德 ( Chéngdé), Hebei

Benin

Puning, county-level city in Jieyang 揭陽／揭阳, Guangdong

Huaning county in Yuxi 玉溪 ( Yùxī), Yunnan

Luoning county in Luoyang 洛陽／洛阳, Henan

variant of 毋寧／毋宁 (wúnìng)

Ninghai county in Ningbo 寧波／宁波 ( Níngbō), Zhejiang

Anning District of Lanzhou City 蘭州市／兰州市 ( Lánzhōu Shì), Gansu
Anning City, to the west of Kunming 昆明 ( Kūnmíng), Yunnan

Ningjin county in Dezhou 德州 ( Dézhōu), Shandong

Ningshan County in Ankang 安康 ( Ankāng), Shaanxi

Ningling county in Shangqiu 商丘 ( Shāngqiū), Henan

Jingning county in Pingliang 平涼／平凉 ( Píngliáng), Gansu

Ningnan county in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture 涼山彞族自治州／凉山彝族自治州 ( Liángshān Yízúzìzhìzhōu), south Sichuan

would rather...
it would be better...
would prefer

Mianning county in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture 涼山彞族自治州／凉山彝族自治州 ( Liángshān Yízúzìzhìzhōu), south Sichuan

Wanning City, Hainan

Dongning county in Mudanjiang 牡丹江, Heilongjiang

(literary) (of a married woman) to visit one's parents

Jining district or Zhining raion of Ulaanchab city 烏蘭察布市／乌兰察布市 ( Wūlánchábùshì), Inner Mongolia

Ning county in Qingyang 慶陽／庆阳 ( Qìngyáng), Gansu

Zhouning county in Ningde 寧德／宁德 ( Níngdé), Fujian

Suining county in Xuzhou 徐州 ( Xúzhōu), Jiangsu

Xianning, prefecture-level city in Hubei

Ningyang county in Tai'an 泰安 ( Tài'ān), Shandong

Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, abbr. 寧／宁 ( Níng), capital Yinchuan 銀川／银川 ( Yínchuān)

Jinning county in Kunming 昆明 ( Kūnmíng), Yunnan

not as good as
would rather

preferably
one would prefer to...(or not to...)
would rather
(would) be better to
(to pick) the lesser of two evils

Liaoning province in northeast China, short name 遼／辽 ( Liáo), capital Shenyang 瀋陽／沈阳 ( Shěnyáng)

Emperor Ningzong of Southern Song (1168-1224)

tranquil
tranquility
serenity

Funing county in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture 文山壯族苗族自治州／文山壮族苗族自治州 ( Wénshān Zhuàngzú Miáozúzìzhìzhōu), Yunnan

Zhongning county in Zhongwei 中衛／中卫 ( Zhōngwèi), Ningxia

peaceful
tranquil
calm
composed
free from worry

Xining, prefecture-level city and capital of Qinghai province 青海省 ( Qīnghǎishěng) in west China

Ning'er County in Yunnan
abbr. for Ning'er Hani and Yi Autonomous County 寧洱哈尼族彞族自治縣／宁洱哈尼族彝族自治县 ( Níng'ěr Hānízú Yízú Zìzhìxiàn)

Xiuning, a county in Huangshan 黃山／黄山 ( Huángshán), Anhui

Guangning county in Zhaoqing 肇慶／肇庆 ( Zhàoqìng), Guangdong

Suining, prefecture-level city in Sichuan

Yongning county in Yinchuan 銀川／银川 ( Yínchuān), Ningxia

Suning county in Cangzhou 滄州／沧州 ( Cāngzhōu), Hebei

Daning county in Linfen 臨汾／临汾 ( Línfén), Shanxi

Xiangning county in Linfen 臨汾／临汾 ( Línfén), Shanxi

Ningjiang district of Songyuan city 松原市, Jilin

Wuning county in Jiujiang 九江, Jiangxi

Ningde, prefecture-level city in Fujian

Yongnning District of Nanning City 南寧市／南宁市 ( Nánníng Shì), Guangxi

Suining county in Shaoyang 邵陽／邵阳 ( Shàoyáng), Hunan

Funing county in Yancheng 鹽城／盐城 ( Yánchéng), Jiangsu

Funing county in Yancheng 鹽城／盐城 ( Yánchéng), Jiangsu

Luò Níngxiàn

Luoning county in Luoyang 洛陽／洛阳, Henan

Jìngníngxiàn

Jingning county in Pingliang 平涼／平凉 ( Píngliáng), Gansu

Huáiníng Xiàn

Huaining, a county in Anqing 安慶／安庆 ( Anqīng), Anhui

Yongnning District of Nanning City 南寧市／南宁市 ( Nánníng Shì), Guangxi

Tàiníng Xiàn

Taining, a county in Sanming City 三明市 ( Sānming Shì), Fujian

Browning, US firearm brand

(Tw) gin and tonic

Zhōngníngxiàn

Zhongning county in Zhongwei 中衛／中卫 ( Zhōngwèi), Ningxia

Weining Yi, Hui and Miao autonomous county in Bijie prefecture 畢節地區／毕节地区 ( Bìjiédìqū), Guizhou

Ningdu county in Ganzhou 贛州／赣州 ( Gànzhōu), Jiangxi

Níngyángxiàn

Ninguang county in Tai'an 泰安 ( Tài'ān), Shandong

Ningguo, county-level city in Xuancheng 宣城 ( Xuānchēng), Anhui

Haining, county-level city in Jiaxing 嘉興／嘉兴 ( Jiāxīng), Zhejiang

Chángníngshì

Changning, county-level city in Hengyang 衡陽／衡阳 ( Héngyáng), Hunan

Jining prefecture-level city in Shandong

Níng'ěr Xiàn

Ning'er County in Yunnan
abbr. for Ning'er Hani and Yi Autonomous County 寧洱哈尼族彞族自治縣／宁洱哈尼族彝族自治县 ( Níng'ěr Hānízú Yízú Zìzhìxiàn)

Jining district or Zhining raion of Ulaanchab city 烏蘭察布市／乌兰察布市 ( Wūlánchábùshì), Inner Mongolia

Suning county in Cangzhou 滄州／沧州 ( Cāngzhōu), Hebei

Nanning, prefecture-level city and capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region 廣西壯族自治區／广西壮族自治区 ( Guǎngxī Zhuàngzú Zìzhìqū) in south China

Shòuníngxiàn

Shouning county in Ningde 寧德／宁德 ( Níngdé), Fujian

Ning'an, county-level city in Mudanjiang 牡丹江, Heilongjiang

Suining county in Xuzhou 徐州 ( Xúzhōu), Jiangsu

Láng Shìníng

Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), Jesuit missionary and artist who served as a painter in the Qing court for 50 years

Puning, county-level city in Jieyang 揭陽／揭阳, Guangdong

Liáoníng Hào

Liaoning, the first aircraft carrier commissioned into the PLA Navy (commissioned in 2012)

Shanghai-Nanjing line

Zhènníngxiàn

Zhenning Buyei and Hmong autonomous county in Anshun 安順／安顺 ( Anshùn), Guizhou

Xiūníng Xiàn

Xiuning, a county in Huangshan 黃山／黄山 ( Huángshán), Anhui

meprobamate

Suining, prefecture-level city in Sichuan

Changning district, central Shanghai

Wuning county in Jiujiang 九江, Jiangxi

Xinning county in Shaoyang 邵陽／邵阳 ( Shàoyáng), Hunan

Xingning District of Nanning City 南寧市／南宁市 ( Nánníng Shì), Guangxi

Yáng Zhènnìng

Chen-Ning Franklin Yang (1922-), theoretical physicist, co-developer of Yang-Mills gauge theory, 1957 Nobel laureate

Funing county in Qinhuangdao 秦皇島／秦皇岛 ( Qínhuángdǎo), Hebei

Ningjin county in Dezhou 德州 ( Dézhōu), Shandong

Níngqiáng Xiàn

Ningqiang County in Hanzhong 漢中／汉中 ( Hànzhōng), Shaanxi

Ningbo subprovincial city in Zhejiang

Huining county in Baiyin 白銀／白银 ( Báiyín), Gansu

Jǐngníngxiàn

Jingning Shezu autonomous county in Lishui 麗水／丽水 ( Líshuǐ), Zhejiang

Níngmíngxiàn

Ningming county in Chongzuo 崇左 ( Chóngzuǒ), Guangxi

Shǎn Gān Níng

Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia provinces

Níngchéng Xiàn

Ningcheng County of Chifeng 赤峰 ( Chìfēng), Inner Mongolia

Zhāng Yíníng

Zhang Yining (1981-), PRC female table tennis player and Olympic gold medalist

Zhōuníngxiàn

Zhouning county in Ningde 寧德／宁德 ( Níngdé), Fujian

tonic water; quinine water

Huaning county in Yuxi 玉溪 ( Yùxī), Yunnan

Ningjin county in Xingtai 邢台 ( Xíngtái), Hebei

Anning District of Lanzhou City 蘭州市／兰州市 ( Lánzhōu Shì), Gansu

Anning, county-level city in Kunming 昆明 ( Kūnmíng), Yunnan

Nínggāngxiàn

former Ninggang county in Jiangxi, now within Jinggangshan, county-level city 井岡山市／井冈山市 ( Jǐnggāngshānshì) in Ji'an 吉安, Jiangxi

Níngshǎn Xiàn

Ningshan County in Ankang 安康 ( Ankāng), Shaanxi

Miǎnníngxiàn

Mianning county in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture 涼山彞族自治州／凉山彝族自治州 ( Liángshān Yízúzìzhìzhōu), south Sichuan

Chāngníngxiàn

Changning county in Baoshan 保山 ( Bǎoshān), Yunnan

Funing county in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture 文山壯族苗族自治州／文山壮族苗族自治州 ( Wénshān Zhuàngzú Miáozúzìzhìzhōu), Yunnan

Suining county in Shaoyang 邵陽／邵阳 ( Shàoyáng), Hunan

Nínglíngxiàn

Ningling county in Shangqiu 商丘 ( Shāngqiū), Henan

Tianning district of Changzhou city 常州市 ( Chángzhōushì), Jiangsu

Jiànníng Xiàn

Jianning, a county in Sanming City 三明市 ( Sānming Shì), Fujian

Apennine (Mountains)

Yining County or Ghulja nahiyisi in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture 伊犁哈薩克自治州／伊犁哈萨克自治州 ( Yīlí Hāsàkè Zìzhìzhōu), Xinjiang

Níngxià Shěng

former Ningxia province, now Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 寧夏回族自治區／宁夏回族自治区 ( Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū)

Ninghe county in Tianjin 天津 ( Tiānjīn)

Ningnan county in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture 涼山彞族自治州／凉山彝族自治州 ( Liángshān Yízúzìzhìzhōu), south Sichuan

Níngyuǎnxiàn

Ningyuan county in Yongzhou 永州 ( Yǒngzhōu), Hunan

Nínglàngxiàn

Ninglang Yizu autonomous county in Lijiang 麗江／丽江 ( Lìjiāng), Yunnan

Jiangning district of Nanjing City 南京市 in Jiangsu 江蘇／江苏

Xining, prefecture-level city and capital of Qinghai province 青海省 ( Qīnghǎishěng) in west China

tannic acid (loanword)

mièchóngnìng

bephenium, anti-parasitic worm medicine

Ninghai county in Ningbo 寧波／宁波 ( Níngbō), Zhejiang

Wanning City, Hainan

Dōngníngxiàn

Dongning county in Mudanjiang 牡丹江, Heilongjiang

Xianning, prefecture-level city in Hubei

Jīnníngxiāng

Chinning township in Kinmen County 金門縣／金门县 ( Jīnménxiàn) (Kinmen or Quemoy islands), Taiwan

Nínghuà Xiàn

Ninghua, a county in Sanming City 三明市 ( Sānming Shì), Fujian

Jinning county in Kunming 昆明 ( Kūnmíng), Yunnan

Daning county in Linfen 臨汾／临汾 ( Línfén), Shanxi

Ningjiang district of Songyuan city 松原市, Jilin

Gulja or Yining city in Xinjiang, capital of Ili Kazakh autonomous prefecture

chlordiazepoxide
(trade name) Librium (loanword)

Ningde, prefecture-level city in Fujian

Níngxiāngxiàn

Ningxiang county in Changsha 長沙／长沙 ( Chángshā), Hunan

Guǎngníngxiàn

Guangning county in Zhaoqing 肇慶／肇庆 ( Zhàoqìng), Guangdong

Yǒngníngxiàn

Yongning county in Yinchuan 銀川／银川 ( Yínchuān), Ningxia

Fēngníngxiàn

Fengning Manchu autonomous county in Chengde 承德 ( Chéngdé), Hebei

Xiāngníngxiàn

Xiangning county in Linfen 臨汾／临汾 ( Línfén), Shanxi

Zhèngníngxiàn

Zhengning county in Qingyang 慶陽／庆阳 ( Qìngyáng), Gansu

Liáoníng Shěng

Liaoning province in northeast China, short name 遼／辽 ( Liáo), capital Shenyang 瀋陽／沈阳 ( Shěnyáng)

Tángníng Jiē

Downing Street (London)

Ningwu county in Xinzhou 忻州 ( Xīnzhōu), Shanxi

Xingning, county-level city in Meizhou 梅州, Guangdong

Chángníngxiàn

Changning county in Yibin 宜賓／宜宾 ( Yíbīn), Sichuan

Lièníngzhǔyì

Leninism

nìngquēwúlàn

better to have nothing (than substandard choice) (idiom); would prefer to go without than accept shoddy option

Liáoníng Dàxué

Liaoning University

xīnxùbùníng

unquiet state of mind

zuòwòbùníng

to be restless

Géluónínggēn

Groningen, province and city in the Netherlands

yǒngwúníngrì

(in such circumstances) there will be no peace
one can never breathe easy

nìngquēwùlàn

same as 寧缺毋濫／宁缺毋滥 (nìngquēwúlàn)

Hù Níng Tiělù

Shanghai-Nanjing Railway, a.k.a. Huning Railway

rather die than submit (idiom)

Jǐngníng Shēxiāng

Jingning Shezu autonomous county in Lishui 麗水／丽水 ( Líshuǐ), Zhejiang

xīnshénbùníng

to feel ill at ease

ānníngbìngfáng

hospice

Xífánnínggēn

Scheveningen, resort in Den Haag (The Hague), Netherlands

xīshìníngrén

to keep the peace; to patch up a quarrel (idiom)

Liènínggélè

Leningrad, former name (1923-1991) of Russian city Saint Petersburg 聖彼得堡／圣彼得堡 ( Shèngbidèbào)

níngjìngzhìyuǎn

tranquility yields transcendence (idiom); quiet life of profound study
cf Still waters run deep.

nìngzuǒwùyòu

(of one's political views) to prefer left rather than right (idiom during the Cultural Revolution)

Sūníngdiànqì

Suning Appliance (PRC electrical retailer)

jīquǎnbùníng

lit. not even the chickens and dogs are left undisturbed (idiom)
fig. great commotion
pandemonium

Bākūníngzhǔyì

巴枯宁主义

[巴枯寧主義]

Bakuninism, the political and social theories associated with the Russian revolutionary and anarchist Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876)

Jiālǐnínggélè

加里宁格勒

[加里寧格勒]

Kaliningrad, town on Baltic now in Russian republic
formerly Königsberg, capital of East Prussia

Liáonínggǔdàoniǎo

辽宁古盗鸟

[遼寧古盜鳥]

Archaeoraptor liaoningensis (bird-like dinosaur found in Liaoning province)

Jiālǐnínggélèzhōu

加里宁格勒州

[加里寧格勒州]

Kaliningrad Oblast

Jǐngníng Shēzú Zìzhìxiàn

景宁畲族自治县

[景寧畬族自治縣]

Jingning Shezu autonomous county in Lishui 麗水／丽水 ( Líshuǐ), Zhejiang

Nínglàng Yízú Zìzhìxiàn

宁蒗彝族自治县

[寧蒗彞族自治縣]

Ninglang Yizu Autonomous County in Lijiang 麗江／丽江 ( Lìjiāng), Yunnan

Mǎkèsī Lièníngzhǔyì

马克思列宁主义

[馬克思列寧主義]

Marxism-Leninism

bùzìyóu,wúnìngsǐ

不自由，毋宁死

[不自由，毋寧死]

give me liberty or give me death

Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū

宁夏回族自治区

[寧夏回族自治區]

Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, abbr. 寧／宁 ( Níng), capital Yinchuan 銀川／银川 ( Yínchuān)

Fēngníng Mǎnzú Zìzhìxiàn

丰宁满族自治县

[豐寧滿族自治縣]

Fengning Manchu Autonomous County in Chengde 承德 ( Chéngdé), Hebei

nìngwéijītóu,bùwéifèngwěi

宁为鸡头，不为凤尾

[寧為雞頭，不為鳳尾]

see 寧做雞頭，不做鳳尾／宁做鸡头，不做凤尾 (nìngzuòjītóu,bùzuòfèngwěi)

nìngwéiyùsuì,bùwéiwǎquán

宁为玉碎，不为瓦全

[寧為玉碎，不為瓦全]

Better broken jade than intact tile.
Death is preferable to dishonor. (idiom)

nìngzuòjītóu,bùzuòfèngwěi

宁做鸡头，不做凤尾

[寧做雞頭，不做鳳尾]

lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom)
fig. to prefer to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond

Zhènníng Bùyīzú Miáozú Zìzhìxiàn

镇宁布依族苗族自治县

[鎮寧布依族苗族自治縣]

Zhenning Buyei and Hmong autonomous county in Anshun 安順／安顺 ( Anshùn), Guizhou

Níng'ěr Hānízú Yízú Zìzhìxiàn

宁洱哈尼族彝族自治县

[寧洱哈尼族彞族自治縣]

Ning'er Hani and Yi Autonomous County in Yunnan, capital Pu'er city 普洱市 ( Pǔ'ěrshì)
formerly Pu'er Hani and Yi autonomous county

Wēiníng Yízú Huízú Miáozú Zìzhìxiàn

威宁彝族回族苗族自治县

[威寧彞族回族苗族自治縣]

Weining Yi, Hui and Miao autonomous county in Bijie prefecture 畢節地區／毕节地区 ( Bìjiédìqū), Guizhou

nìngchāishízuòmiào,bùhuǐyīzhuānghūn

宁拆十座庙，不毁一桩婚

[寧拆十座廟，不毀一樁婚]

rather destroy ten temples than a single marriage (idiom)