How to Write 嗫 (niè) — Meaning “To move the lips as if to speak.”

Picture a mouth (口) that is trying to speak but only makes a tiny "nye" sound — like a nervous whisper. The right part 聂 sounds like "neat" but looks like two little mouths (又) next to an ear (耳), as if someone is whispering near your ear.

Write the left 口 small and compact, then write the right component 聂 carefully. In 聂, first write the ear (耳), then two 又 shapes side by side; do not connect them. A common mistake is making the two 又 too big or uneven, which ruins the balance.

嗫 means moving the lips hesitantly, while 㕡 (xì) is an extremely rare character meaning to drink or sip, and 唪 (fěng) means to recite or chant aloud. Visually, 嗫 has 聂 on the right, 㕡 has a different top component, and 唪 has 奉 on the right.

嗫 almost always appears in the word 嗫嚅 (niè rú), meaning to mumble or speak hesitantly. It is mostly found in formal writing, literature, or descriptive prose to show a character’s nervousness or uncertainty, not in casual daily conversation.

Common words containing 嗫 include: 嗫嚅 (niè rú) — To mumble or speak hesitatingly.; 嗫嗫 (niè niè) — Hesitatingly moving one's lips.; 嗫嚅道 (niè rú dào) — Mumbled or said hesitantly..