dòng nǎozi, zǒnghuì zhǎodào jiějué de bànfǎ. When confronted with difficulties, use your brains
and you will always find a solution.
nào 闹 TRAD 鬧 V make trouble, create a disturbance ■ 这几个孩子闹得我根本看不进书。Zhè jǐ ge
háizi nào de wǒ gēnběn kànbujìn shū. These kids raised such a ruckus that I could not concentrate
on reading at all. ■ 别闹了，邻居该来提意见了。Bié nào le, línjū gāilái tí yìjiàn le. Stop making
such a noise. The neighbors will come to complain. 闹笑话 nào xiàohua make a fool of oneself, cut a
ridiculous figure / 闹脾气 nào píqi throw a tantrum
ne 呢 PARTICLE 1 (used at the end of a question to soften the tone of enquiry) ■ 你打算明年做什么 呢？Nǐ
dǎsuàn míngnián zuò shénme ne? What do you intend to do next year? 2 How about...? Where is
(are)...? ■ 你们明天出去旅游，孩 子呢？Nǐmen míngtiān chūqu lǚyóu, háizi ne? You’re going
on holiday tomorrow. How about the kids? ■ “小明，你妈呢？”“Xiǎo Míng, nǐ mā ne?” “Xiao
Ming, where is your mom?”
nèi 那 same as 那 nà. Used colloquially.
nèi 内 N inside, within (ANTONYM 外 wài) ■ 房间内 外都很干净。Fángjiān nèi wài dōu hěn gānjìng. The
home is clean both inside and out. ■ 我一 定在十天内还清借款。Wǒ yídìng zài shí tiān nèi
huánqīng jièkuǎn. I will pay off the debt within ten days.
nèibù 内部 N interior, inside ■ 展览会内部整理， 暂停对外开放。Zhǎnlǎnhuì nèibù zhěnglǐ, zàntíng
duìwài kāifàng. The exhibition is temporarily closed for reorganization. 内部资料 nèibù zīliào
document for internal circulation (e.g. within a government department)
nèicún 内存 N RAM, memory
nèihán 内涵 N 1 intention, connotation 2 self-cultivation
nèikē 内科 [modif: 内 inside + 科 department] N department of internal medicine (in a hospital)
nèimù 内幕 N inside story
nèiróng 内容 [modif: 内 inside + 容 contain] N content, substance ■ 这本书的内容很丰富。Zhè běn
shū de nèiróng hěn fēngfù. The book is rich in content. ■ 王董事长讲话的主要内容是什 么？
Wáng dǒngshìzhǎng jiǎnghuà de zhǔyào nèiróng shì shénme? What is the main idea of Chairman
Wang’s talk?
nèizài 内在 [modif: 内 inner + 在 being] ADJ inherent, intrinsic (ANTONYM 外在 wàizài)
nèn 嫩 ADJ young and tender, tender ■ 请你把牛肉 做得嫩一点。Qǐng nǐ bǎ niúròu zuò de nèn yìdiǎn.
Please make the beef tender. (→ Don’t overcook the beef.)
néng 能 MODAL V can, be able to ■ 我今天不舒 服，不能去上班。Wǒ jīntiān bù shūfu, bù néng qù
shàngbān. I’m unwell today and won’t be able to go to work. ■ 这辆车加满汽油，能跑多 少公
里？Zhè liàng chē jiā mǎn qìyóu, néng pǎo duōshǎo gōnglǐ? How many kilometers can this car run
on a full tank?
NOTE: See note on 会 huì modal verb.
nénggàn 能干 ADJ (of people) able, capable, efficient ■ 他非常能干，别人一星期做的工作， 他三天
就完成了。Tā fēicháng nénggàn, biérén yì xīngqī zuò de gōngzuò, tā sān tiān jiù wánchéng le.
He is very efficient. He can finish in three days what takes others a week to do.
nénggòu 能够 MODAL V same as 能 néng
nénglì 能力 [comp: 能 ability + 力 strength] N abili- ty ■ 他能力比一般人强，但是太骄傲了。Tā
nénglì bǐ yìbān rén qiáng, dànshì tài jiāo’ào le. He is more capable than most people, but he is too
conceited. ■ 我们要求职工有使用电脑的能力。Wǒmen yāoqiú zhígōng yǒu shǐyòng diànnǎo de
nénglì. We require that our staff have computer competence.
néngliàng 能量 [modif: 能 ability + 量 amount] N energy, capabilities
néngyuán 能源 [modif: 能 energy + 源 source, resource] N energy resources ■ 石油和煤总有用 完的
一天，人类必须开发新能源。Shíyóu hé méi zǒngyǒu yòngwán de yìtiān, rénlèi bìxū kāifā xīn
néngyuán. There will be a day when oil and coal are exhausted. Mankind must develop new energy
resources.
ng 嗯 INTERJ (used after a question to reinforce questioning) ■ 你把自行车借给谁了, 嗯？Nǐ bǎ