寧

Definitions

寧

1. peaceful; tranquil; serene; at peace

   心緒不寧／心绪不宁  ―  xīnxù bù níng  ―  restless; uneasy

   • 首出庶物，萬國咸寧。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     首出庶物，万国咸宁。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: I Ching, 11^th – 8^th century BCE

     Shǒu chū shùwù, wànguó xiánníng. [Pinyin]

     (The sage) appears aloft, high above all things, and the myriad states all enjoy repose.

2. (literary) to stabilise; to pacify

   息事寧人／息事宁人  ―  xīshìníngrén  ―  to end a dispute or conflict and calm the people down

3. (obsolete) to mourn for one's deceased parent
4. (literary, especially of married women) to visit one's parents
5. Alternative name for 江寧／江宁 (Jiāngníng, “old name for Nanjing”).

   滬寧鐵路／沪宁铁路  ―  hù níng tiělù  ―  Shanghai-Nanjing railway

6. Alternative name for 寧夏／宁夏 (Níngxià, “Ningxia”).

Compounds

Definitions

寧

1. rather; would rather

   • 旣而悽愴曰：「寧我負人，毋人負我！」遂行。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     既而凄怆曰：「宁我负人，毋人负我！」遂行。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: Pei Songzhi, Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 5^th century CE

     Jì ér qīchuàng yuē: “Níng wǒ fù rén, wú rén fù wǒ!” Suì xíng. [Pinyin]

     Later, [Cao Cao] sorrowfully said: "I would rather betray others than let others betray me!" Then left.

2. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) could there be
3. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) such; like this; so
4. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) unexpectedly; in spite of everything
5. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) modal particle

Compounds

Definitions

寧

1. a surname