黏
Meaning
Sticky; glutinous; adhesive. Describes something that adheres or clings. Also used figuratively to describe a person who is clingy or hard to shake off.
Used literally for substances like glue, wet rice, or mud. Compounds: 黏合剂 (adhesive), 黏性 (adhesiveness/viscosity), 黏稠 (thick and sticky). Also used colloquially to describe 黏人 (clingy person). Note: 黏 (nián, adjective — sticky) is distinct from 粘 (zhān, verb — to stick/adhere), though they are frequently confused in practice.
Examples
- 夏天的高温让沥青变得黏软，行人走过时靴底常常沾上柏油。 The summer heat makes asphalt soft and sticky, and pedestrians often end up with tar stuck to the soles of their boots.
- 这款医用胶带的黏性极强，即使沾水也不容易脱落，非常适合用于皮肤固定。 This medical tape is extremely adhesive and doesn’t come off easily even when wet, making it ideal for securing dressings to the skin.
- 小孩子特别黏人，整天缠着父母，一刻都不愿意离开。 Little kids can be really clingy—sticking to their parents all day and not wanting to leave for even a moment.
Usage Guide
Context: everyday life, food, chemistry, parenting
Tone: neutral
Do Say
- 这种新型黏合剂在工业生产中具有广泛的应用前景，其超强的黏性和耐高温性能使其能够胜任传统胶水无法完成的高要求连接任务。(This new type of adhesive has broad application prospects in industrial production; its superior stickiness and high-temperature resistance enable it to handle demanding bonding tasks that traditional adhesives cannot accomplish.)
- 刚蒸好的糯米饭质地黏软，散发着清甜的香气，是制作各种传统点心的理想原料。(Freshly steamed glutinous rice has a sticky and soft texture with a subtly sweet aroma — it is the ideal raw material for making a variety of traditional pastries.)
Don't Say
- 将'黏'(nián)与'粘'(zhān)混淆 — 黏 (nián) is an adjective describing the property of being sticky; 粘 (zhān) is a verb meaning 'to stick/adhere something to something else'; in formal writing the distinction should be observed
Origin & History
黏 originally referred to the sticky quality of glutinous rice. Extended to any adhesive or clingy quality.
Cultural Context
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Related Phrases
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