How to Write 宁 (níng/nìng) — Meaning “Peaceful; rather.”

Imagine a nail (丁) hammered into a roof (宀) to make the house strong and quiet. This visual of a secure roof helps you remember that 宁 means "peaceful" or "tranquil." Think of the nail keeping everything in place so you can rest peacefully.

Write the roof (宀) wide enough to cover the bottom part completely. The bottom part starts with a horizontal stroke, then a vertical stroke that ends with a small hook—this hook is easy to forget. Common mistakes include making the roof too narrow or writing the vertical stroke without the hook.

The character 它 (tā, meaning "it") also has a roof (宀) on top, but the bottom is 匕 (a spoon-like shape), not 丁. Visually, 宁 looks like a roof over a nail (丁), while 它 has a roof over a spoon. In meaning, 宁 is about peace or preference, but 它 is a pronoun for objects or animals.

宁 is common in words like 安宁 (ānníng, peaceful), 宁静 (níngjìng, serene), and 宁愿 (nìngyuàn, would rather). It often appears in names and phrases expressing calmness, such as the idiom 宁静致远 (níng jìng zhì yuǎn, "tranquility leads to great vision"). In daily life, you might use 宁 to talk about a quiet place or a personal choice.

Common words containing 宁 include: 安宁 (ān níng) — Peaceful / Tranquil; 宁静 (níng jìng) — Quiet; peaceful; serene.; 宁愿 (nìng yuàn) — Would rather.