Chinese words pronounced nian (any tone) 18 words, in the 4 tones nian is read in. niān (1st tone) 2 words 拈(niān) nip 蔫(niān) fade 拈(niān) nip 蔫(niān) fade nián (2nd tone) 4 words 年(nián) year 粘(nián) surname Nian 黏(nián) sticky 鲶(nián) sheatfish 年(nián) year 粘(nián) surname Nian 黏(nián) sticky 鯰(nián) sheatfish niǎn (3rd tone) 7 words 辇(niǎn) man-drawn carriage 捻(niǎn) twirl 碾(niǎn) stone roller 撵(niǎn) expel 撚(niǎn) delicate 涊(niǎn) muddy water 淰(niǎn) calm water 輦(niǎn) man-drawn carriage 捻(niǎn) twirl 碾(niǎn) stone roller 攆(niǎn) expel 撚(niǎn) delicate 涊(niǎn) muddy water 淰(niǎn) calm water niàn (4th tone) 5 words 念(niàn) read 埝(niàn) earth embankment used to hold back or retain water 廿(niàn) twenty 卄(niàn) twenty, twentieth 齞(niàn) display the teeth 念(niàn) read 埝(niàn) earth embankment used to hold back or retain water 廿(niàn) twenty 卄(niàn) twenty, twentieth 齞(niàn) display the teeth Often confused with nian lian in any tone 35 words