nuò
verb #2,020

Meanings

  1. 1 to consent
  2. 2 promise
  3. 3 yes

Examples

HSK 6
Tā chéngnuò huì bāngmáng zuò zhège xiàngmù.
He has promised to help with the project.
HSK 7-9
Jūnzǐ yī nuò qiānjīn.
A gentleman keeps his word.

Tips

usage
一诺千金 - a single promise worth a thousand gold pieces.

Components

radical
yán
speech (left-side form)
Left speech radical - the contracted side-form of (kept in traditional ). Anchors in the speech-act family alongside , , , , . Carries the meaning core: a promise is by definition a spoken commitment. The radical signals this is something said, not something held physically.
phonetic
ruò
if; like; you
Right component supplies the sound: ruò → nuò with onset shift. Adds a faint flavour - originally depicted a person combing hair while answering 'yes,' so the 'consent' sense of is faintly visible in the phonetic itself. Same phonetic in (here you are), (hide). 唯唯诺诺 ('yes-yes' submissive) preserves 's original 'yes' meaning.

Stroke Order

nuò