Traditional: 內
nèi HSK 4

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

书在书包内。
Shū zài shūbāo nèi.
The book is inside the backpack.
请在三天内完成。
Qǐng zài sān tiān nèi wánchéng.
Please finish it within three days.
房间内很安静。
Fángjiān nèi hěn ānjìng.
It's very quiet inside the room.
书在包内。
Shū zài bāo nèi.
The book is inside the bag.
他在房间内。
Tā zài fángjiān nèi.
He is inside the room.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 内 as a box with a person (人) inside, as the character resembles a person enclosed within walls. Associate it with 'inner' or 'internal' to remember its meaning of being within limits.

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. Common in expressions of time (e.g., 一周内), location (e.g., 室内), or scope (e.g., 国内). It often follows another noun to specify an internal range.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used in the structure '[Noun] + 内' to indicate 'within [Noun],' such as 时间 + 内 (e.g., 这周内). It can also be part of compound words like 内部 (nèibù, internal) or serve as a locative noun in sentences.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 内 can imply privacy or inner qualities, as in 内心 (inner heart), reflecting values of introspection and family/group boundaries (e.g., 内人 for wife). It's also used in organizational terms like 内政 (domestic affairs).

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 里 (lǐ), which is more general and colloquial for 'inside,' 内 is slightly more formal and often used in fixed phrases or to emphasize boundaries. 中 (zhōng) can mean 'within' but is broader, focusing on a process or state (e.g., 工作中).

Master this word with quizzes, flashcards & more

Learn in CILI →

Related Words