Chinese words pronounced nian (any tone) 17 words, in the 4 tones nian is read in. niān (1st tone) 2 words 拈(niān) to nip 蔫(niān) to fade 拈(niān) to nip 蔫(niān) to fade nián (2nd tone) 3 words 年(nián) year 黏(nián) sticky 鲶(nián) sheatfish 年(nián) year 黏(nián) sticky 鯰(nián) sheatfish niǎn (3rd tone) 7 words 辇(niǎn) man-drawn carriage 捻(niǎn) to twirl 碾(niǎn) stone roller 撵(niǎn) to expel 撚(niǎn) to play tricks on or toy with 輦(niǎn) man-drawn carriage 捻(niǎn) to twirl 碾(niǎn) stone roller 攆(niǎn) to expel 撚(niǎn) to play tricks on or toy with All 7 words pronounced niǎn niàn (4th tone) 5 words 念(niàn) to read 埝(niàn) earth embankment used to hold back or retain water 廿(niàn) twenty 卄(niàn) twenty, twentieth 齞(niàn) to display the teeth 念(niàn) to read 埝(niàn) earth embankment used to hold back or retain water 廿(niàn) twenty 卄(niàn) twenty, twentieth 齞(niàn) to display the teeth Often confused with nian lian in any tone 33 words