Level 1 · Unit 4 Family & People

How to Write 奶 (nǎi)

Meaning: "Grandmother (paternal)"
Step-by-Step Stroke Order Diagram
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Detailed Mastery Guide for 奶

The character 奶 (Traditional: 奶) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Grandmother (paternal)". In our Level 1 curriculum, we focus on the 5-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.

Writing & Recognition

Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Family & People, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

Key Vocabulary

牛奶 niúnǎi ngau4 naai5
cow's milk
奶奶 nǎinai naai5 naai5
paternal grandmother

Radical Breakdown

Breaking it down: The character 奶 is built on the radical Woman (女), 38. Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.

Etymology & Origins

Phono-semantic compound. The radical 女 (woman) indicates gender or relation to motherhood, while 乃 acts as the phonetic component.

Example Sentence

Simplified: 我每天早上都要喝一杯牛奶。

Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang dōu yào hē yì bēi niúnǎi.

Traditional: 我每天早上都要喝一杯牛奶。

ngo5 mui5 tin1 zou2 soeng6 dou1 jiu3 hot3 jat1 bui1 ngau4 naai5.

"I drink a glass of milk every morning."

Dialect Pronunciation

In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as nǎi. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is naai5. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.

Practice & Retention

To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.

Quick Self-Check

What is the meaning of '奶'?

A) Milk
B) Water
C) Bread
D) Fruit

Other Characters in Level 1 Unit 4

Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!

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