Pinyin initial: "n"

The Pinyin initial "n" is used in the first half of Pinyin syllables. In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, "n" belongs to the group of Pinyin initials which are represented in mnemonics by men. You can visit the Pinyin index to see all Pinyin syllables from this mnemonic group, or to see all Pinyin syllables "n" can appear in.

Mnemonics for n

N is for Napoleon.

Characters with n

男
nán = n + an2
male / Baron, lowest of five orders of nobility 五等爵位[wu3 deng3 jue2 wei4]
男 = 力 + 田 : Mnemonic symbol: a mankini.

Napoleon (n) is taking part in the iron-man contest. In the anthill's kitchen (an2) he has to rob through a muddy field (田) as fast as possible while wearing a mankini (男). He has to reach a power button (力) located at the other end of the field and push it as fast as possible to qualify for the next round.
㇏
nà = n + a4
Right-falling stroke
Mnemonic symbol: this one looks like a finger.

Napoleon (n) is giving you the finger (㇏) in the ashram's bathroom (a4).
奈
nài = n + ai4
used in expressions that convey frustration and futility, such as 無奈|无奈[wu2 nai4] and 莫可奈何|莫可奈何[mo4 ke3 nai4 he2] (literary) / used for its phonetic value in writing foreign words
奈 = 大 + 示 : Napoleon (n) wants to put his guideon (示) on the peak of Mount Sinai (奈) in the airplane's bathroom (ai4), but the robot (大) normally responsible for carrying his guideon is broken. Without any better option (奈) Napoleon will have to carry up the guideon himself.
内
內
nèi = n + ei4
inside / inner / internal / within / interior
内 = ⺆ + 人 : Mnemonic symbol: A CT scanner to see inside of someone.
内 = ⺆ + 人 : Napoleon just can't find his stapler and suspects that Neanderthal Man has eaten it. Not thinking twice he orders Neanderthal Man to enter his CT scanner in the Eiffel Tower's bathroom, finding his stapler in Neanderthal Man's stomach.
呐
吶
nà = n + a4
battle cry
呐 = 口 + 内 : Napoleon (n) has a terrible stomach ache. Using a CT scanner (内) in the ashram's bathroom (a4) he finds the reason: a mandarin (口) is dislodged in his intestines. With a loud battle cry (呐) he pulls the mandarin out with his bare hands.
呐
吶
na = n + a5
sentence-final particle (abbr. for 呢啊[ne5 a5] or variant of 哪[na5])
南
nán = n + an2
south
南 = 十 + 冂 + 丷 + 干 : Napoleon and the mean crocodile met in the anthill's kitchen to discuss a secret plan. The mean crocodile found a map which leads to a treasure of dried fruits. Napoleon and the mean crocodile agree to follow the map and claim the dried fruits, but each of them has his own secret agenda: Napoleon wants to claim the land and put up his big cross, and the crocodile just wants to relax under a palm tree.
南 = 十 + 冂 + 丷 + 干 : Mnemonic symbol: a palm tree (palms are only found in the south)
南
nán = n + an2
surname Nan
能
néng = n + (e)ng2
can / to be able to / might possibly / ability / (physics) energy
能 = 匕 + 厶 + 月 : Napoleon and the moon are fighting over who's the real Napoleon in the engine's kitchen. They both wield a ladle each. During the battle, Napoleon destroys the moon's fake nose, while the moon dents Napoleon's bicorne hat.
能 = 匕 + 厶 + 月 : Mnemonic symbol: bicorne hat.
能
néng = n + (e)ng2
surname Neng
闹
鬧
nào = n + ao4
noisy / cacophonous / to make noise / to disturb / to vent (feelings) / to fall ill / to have an attack (of sickness) / to go in (for some activity) / to joke
闹 = 市 + 门 : Napoleon (n) opened a shop (市) just inside the aorta's entrance (ao4) and it is bustling with noise (闹). His supermarket is so successful because he installed a trap door (门) in the floor above through which new customers keep falling.
闹
閙
nào = n + ao4
variant of 鬧|闹[nao4]
闹 = 市 + 门 : Napoleon (n) opened a shop (市) just inside the aorta's entrance (ao4) and it is bustling with noise (闹). His supermarket is so successful because he installed a trap door (门) in the floor above through which new customers keep falling.
那
nà = n + a4
that / those / then (in that case) / commonly pr. [nei4] before a classifier, esp. in Beijing
那 = 二 + 刀 + 阝 : The emperor is wielding a sword with a capacitance, because it's electrical. So in other characters this will be a laser sword.
那 = 二 + 刀 + 阝 : Napoleon is practising with his laser sword in the ashram's bathroom, in the case that he will be released from this prison. Then he'll be ready to take on the world.
那
na̅ = n + a1
surname Na
那
nǎ = n + a3
variant of 哪[na3]
哪
na = n + a5
(emphatic sentence-final particle, used instead of 啊[a5] after a word ending in "n")
哪
nǎ = n + a3
how / which
哪 = 口 + 那 : Napoleon is locked into the ashram. He holds a mandarin like Hamlet held that skull and asks himself: "By my holy laser sword, how can I escape this dreadful place?"
哪
né = n + e2
used in 哪吒[Ne2 zha1] / Taiwan pr. [nuo2]
哪
něi = n + ei3
which? (interrogative, followed by classifier or numeral-classifier)
拿
㧱
ná = n + a2
old variant of 拿[na2]
拿 = 合 + 手 : In the ashram's kitchen, Napoleon sees something flying towards him and instinctively catches it with his baseball glove. He realizes too late that what he holds in his hand is a tub of glue which ruined his glove.