Teochew Dictionary · Browse entries

奈

This entry is flagged for review.

Pronunciation

Peng'im: nai6
POJ: nǎi
Variety: chaozhou

Meanings and usage

adverb: how; why (rhetorical), nothing can be done about
奈何, 怎奈

奈 carries multiple distinct senses (rhetorical adverb 'how/why', verb 'to endure', and a modern loan prefix 'nano-'); the classical adverbial sense was chosen as most likely for a native Teochew reading, but this is not certain.

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