nà: 捺 - To Press Down, To Restrain; Right-Falling Stroke

Keywords: na, nà, 捺, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese strokes, to press down, to restrain, control emotions, suppress, hold back, an na bu zhu, Chinese writing, fingerprint, basic strokes

Summary: Discover the dual meaning of the Chinese character 捺 (nà). It's not just a fundamental, right-falling stroke essential to Chinese calligraphy, but also a verb meaning “to press down” or “to restrain,” often used to describe controlling one's emotions. This page explores how 捺 (nà) embodies concepts of artistic control and emotional discipline, providing practical examples from writing characters to expressing feelings in modern Chinese.

Pinyin (with tone marks): nà

Part of Speech: Verb, Noun

HSK Level: N/A

Concise Definition: To press down or restrain; the right-falling stroke in Chinese calligraphy.

In a Nutshell: Imagine holding something back with your hand. That's the core of 捺 (nà). As a verb, it means to restrain an impulse or emotion, like holding back your temper. As a noun, it's one of the most important brush strokes in writing Chinese characters—a controlled, downward press that finishes with a flourish. Both meanings revolve around the idea of deliberate, controlled pressure.