Usage note
念表示读、想念。
niàn biǎo shì dú 、 xiǎng niàn。
念 means to read aloud or to miss someone.
Context note
念常用于学习、情感和口语。
niàn cháng yòng yú xué xí 、 qíng gǎn hé kǒu yǔ。
It is often used with study, feelings, and spoken language.
5 examples
请念这句话。
qǐng niàn zhè jù huà。
Please read this sentence aloud.
我很想念家人。
wǒ hěn xiǎng niàn jiā rén。
I miss my family very much.
她在念书。
tā zài niàn shū。
She is studying.
老师让大家念。
lǎo shī ràng dà jiā niàn。
The teacher asked everyone to read aloud.
念一遍就会了。
niàn yí biàn jiù huì le。
Read it once and you will know.
5 mini stories
老师说，念书时要大声一点。
lǎo shī shuō， niàn shū shí yào dà shēng yì diǎn。
The teacher said to read a little louder when studying.
他想念远方的朋友。
tā xiǎng niàn yuǎn fāng de péng yǒu。
He misses friends far away.
她每天都会念一遍课文。
tā měi tiān dōu huì niàn yí biàn kè wén。
She reads the text aloud once every day.
念着念着就记住了。
niàn zhe niàn zhe jiù jì zhù le。
Reading it over and over helps you remember.
孩子念起了妈妈教的歌。
hái zi niàn qǐ le mā ma jiào de gē。
The child sang the song his mom taught.
Mini dialogue
念课文
A
请你念这篇课文。
Qǐng nǐ niàn zhè piān kèwén.
Please read this lesson aloud.
B
好的，我现在念。
Hǎo de, wǒ xiànzài niàn.
Okay, I'll read it aloud now.
念故事
A
妈妈，你给我念故事好吗？
Māma, nǐ gěi wǒ niàn gùshi hǎo ma?
Mom, can you read me a story?
B
好，我念给你听。
Hǎo, wǒ niàn gěi nǐ tīng.
Okay, I'll read it aloud for you.
Related words and contrasts
similar
读
dú
to read
General verb for reading, not necessarily aloud.
related
背诵
bèisòng
to recite from memory
Related to reading aloud but specifically from memory.
contrast
默读
mòdú
to read silently
Contrasts with 念 as it means reading without sound.