捏

• Pinyin: niē
• Hanzi breakdown: 捏 = 扌 (hand) + 臬 (upright post/standard) — to grasp or press something with precision using the hand

Meaning

To pinch; to squeeze between fingers; to knead; to shape by pressing.

Describes the action of pinching or squeezing something with fingers, or shaping a soft material such as clay or dough. 捏泥人 (shape clay figurines), 捏面团 (knead dough), 捏造 (fabricate/make up — lit. squeeze into shape). Metaphorically, 捏一把汗 (break into a cold sweat from anxiety — lit. squeeze out sweat). Also: 捏住鼻子 (pinch one's nose), 捏着嗓子说话 (speak in a pinched/affected voice).

Examples

1. 老艺人用灵巧的双手捏出了一只栩栩如生的泥塑小老虎，赢得了围观孩子们的阵阵欢呼。 With nimble hands, the elderly artisan pinched and shaped a lifelike little clay tiger, winning rounds of cheers from the children watching.
2. 看着运动员在高空钢丝上行走，台下观众个个捏了一把冷汗，屏息凝神地紧盯着那道细细的钢绳。 Watching the athlete walk on a high wire, the audience below broke out in a cold sweat, holding their breath and staring fixedly at the thin steel cable.
3. 她捏着一张皱巴巴的纸条，上面记录着多年前与旧友约定重逢的时间与地点。 She pinched a crumpled note between her fingers; it recorded the time and place she and an old friend had agreed to reunite years ago.

Usage Guide

Context: crafts, everyday life, emotion

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这位民间艺术家从小跟随祖父学习捏面人的技艺，几十年如一日，将这门古老的手工艺传承并发扬光大。(This folk artist learned the art of making dough figurines from his grandfather since childhood and has, for decades without exception, inherited and promoted this ancient craft.)
• 比赛进入最后关头，双方比分咬得极紧，场外观众不禁捏了一把汗，紧张地等待着最终结果。(As the competition entered its final moments and the scores were neck-and-neck, spectators couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, anxiously awaiting the final result.)

Don't Say

• 将'捏'用于大面积的按压或揉搓动作 — 捏 specifically involves the fingertips or a pinching motion; for broader kneading or rubbing, use 揉 (rub/knead) or 按 (press) instead

Origin & History

捏 = 扌 (hand radical) + 臬 (target/standard) — to grasp precisely with the hand

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal