How to Write 碾 (niǎn) — Meaning “grind / roll”

Imagine a big stone (石) rolling forward to spread (展) rice grains flat on the ground. This picture of a heavy stone roller crushing and flattening helps you connect the character to its meaning of 'grind' or 'roll'.

Start with the left radical 石 (5 strokes) and keep it narrow, then write the right part 展 (10 strokes) wider. A common mistake is making the two sides uneven; remember that 展 has many strokes, so plan enough space for it.

硼 (péng) means the element boron and has 朋 (friend) on the right, while 碇 (dìng) means a stone anchor and has 定 (fix) on the right. The key difference is the right component: 碾's 展 is about spreading, while the other two have unrelated meanings.

You often find it in words like 碾米 (mill rice) and 碾压 (roll over or crush, as in road construction). In slang, 碾压 can also mean to completely dominate an opponent, like a team that 'crushes' the other side in a game.

Common words containing 碾 include: 碾米 (niǎn mǐ) — mill rice; 碾压 (niǎn yā) — roll over / crush; 碾子 (niǎn zi) — stone roller (for grinding grain).