nèn

嫩

HSK 7-9Character · Adjective

tender; soft; undercooked; light-colored; inexperienced

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

4 senses · 20 examples
1.

adjective

tender; delicate; young and soft

Can describe plants, skin, or young people, often contrasted with "老".

Chūn春
tiān天
gāng刚
zhǎng长
chū出
de的
nèn嫩
yè叶
tè特
bié别
hǎo好
kàn看
 。

The new tender leaves that just grew in spring are especially beautiful.

Zhè这
kē棵
xiǎo小
shù树
miáo苗
de的
nèn嫩
yá芽
dài带
zhe着
dàn淡
dàn淡
de的
qīng清
xiāng香
 。

The tender buds on this young sapling carry a faint fragrance.

Show 3 more examples
Yīng婴
ér儿
de的
pí皮
fū肤
mō摸
qǐ起
lai来
tè特
bié别
nèn嫩
 。

A baby's skin feels especially soft and delicate to the touch.

Xiǎo小
gū姑
niang娘
liǎn脸
pí皮
nèn嫩
 ,
bù不
hǎo好
yì意
si思
zài在
zhòng众
rén人
miàn面
qián前
biǎo表
yǎn演
 。

The young girl is shy and embarrassed to perform in front of a crowd.

Zhè这
zhǒng种
duō多
ròu肉
zhí植
wù物
de的
yè叶
piàn片
fēi非
cháng常
nèn嫩
 ,
bù不
néng能
bào暴
shài晒
 。

The leaves of this succulent plant are very tender and cannot be exposed to direct sunlight.

2.

adjective

undercooked; easily chewed

Used specifically for cooked food, especially meat or vegetables.

Mā妈
ma妈
chǎo炒
de的
ròu肉
piàn片
hěn很
nèn嫩
 ,
yī一
diǎn点
dōu都
bù不
chái柴
 。

The pork slices my mom fried are very tender and not tough at all.

Zhè这
dào道
qīng青
cài菜
chǎo炒
de得
tài太
nèn嫩
le了
 ,
hái还
yǒu有
diǎn点
shēng生
 。

This green vegetable was overcooked under the wrong timing, it's still a bit raw.

Show 3 more examples
Zuò做
niú牛
pái排
yào要
gēn根
jù据
xǐ喜
hào好
kòng控
zhì制
shú熟
dù度
 ,
qī七
fēn分
shú熟
de的
niú牛
pái排
zuì最
nèn嫩
 。

You should control the doneness of steak according to your preference; medium-rare steak is the most tender.

Zhè这
jiā家
cān餐
tīng厅
de的
shuǐ水
zhǔ煮
yú鱼
ròu肉
zhì质
nèn嫩
huá滑
 ,
guǎng广
shòu受
hǎo好
píng评
 。

The poached fish at this restaurant has tender, smooth meat and is widely praised.

Wǒ我
xǐ喜
huan欢
chī吃
nèn嫩
dòu豆
fǔ腐
 ,
kǒu口
gǎn感
bǐ比
lǎo老
dòu豆
fǔ腐
gèng更
hǎo好
 。

I like to eat soft tofu, its texture is better than firm tofu.

3.

adjective

light; pale (color)

Describes soft, pale colors like yellow or green.

Tā她
jīn今
tiān天
chuān穿
le了
yī一
jiàn件
nèn嫩
huáng黄
sè色
de的
lián连
yī衣
qún裙
 。

She wore a pale yellow dress today.

Chūn春
tiān天
de的
cǎo草
píng坪
zhǎng长
chū出
le了
nèn嫩
lǜ绿
sè色
de的
xīn新
cǎo草
 。

New pale green grass grows on the lawn in spring.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
kuǎn款
kǒu口
hóng红
de的
yán颜
sè色
shì是
nèn嫩
fěn粉
sè色
 ,
hěn很
shì适
hé合
rì日
cháng常
zhuāng妆
róng容
 。

The color of this lipstick is light pink, perfect for daily makeup.

Chūn春
tiān天
de的
nèn嫩
lǜ绿
sè色
zǒng总
shì是
néng能
ràng让
rén人
gǎn感
dào到
shēng生
jī机
bó勃
bó勃
 。

The pale green of spring always makes people feel full of vitality.

Zhè这
jiā家
kā咖
fēi啡
guǎn馆
de的
zhuāng装
xiū修
fēng风
gé格
yǐ以
nèn嫩
lán蓝
sè色
wéi为
zhǔ主
sè色
diào调
 。

This cafe uses light blue as its main interior color scheme.

4.

adjective

inexperienced; immature

Used to describe someone who lacks practical experience and is not yet mature.

Tā他
gāng刚
bì毕
yè业
 ,
dān担
rèn任
bù部
mén门
jīng经
lǐ理
hái还
xiǎn显
de得
yǒu有
diǎn点
nèn嫩
 。

He just graduated, and still seems a bit inexperienced as a department manager.

Zhè这
wèi位
nián年
qīng轻
jiào教
liàn练
suī虽
rán然
lǐ理
lùn论
zhī知
shi识
zhā扎
shi实
 ,
dàn但
shí实
zhàn战
jīng经
yàn验
hái还
nèn嫩
le了
diǎn点
 。

Although this young coach has solid theoretical knowledge, he is still a bit inexperienced in actual combat.

Show 3 more examples
Xīn新
rén人
zuò做
zhè这
fèn份
gōng工
zuò作
hái还
nèn嫩
 ,
xū需
yào要
duō多
xiàng向
lǎo老
yuán员
gōng工
xué学
xí习
 。

The new hire is still inexperienced at this job and needs to learn more from senior staff.

Zuò作
wèi为
zǒng总
zhǐ指
huī挥
 ,
tā他
de的
jīng经
yàn验
hái还
nèn嫩
 ,
xū需
yào要
gèng更
duō多
duàn锻
liàn炼
 。

As the commander-in-chief, he still lacks experience and needs more practice.

Zhè这
ge个
nián年
qīng轻
de的
shè设
jì计
shī师
xiǎng想
fǎ法
hěn很
xīn新
yǐng颖
 ,
dàn但
chǔ处
lǐ理
dà大
xíng型
xiàng项
mù目
de的
jīng经
yàn验
hái还
nèn嫩
 。

This young designer has very innovative ideas, but is still inexperienced in handling large-scale projects.