尿

to urinate

JLPT N5

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The word "尿" (niào) primarily refers to urine or the act of urinating. It is commonly used in medical, biological, and everyday contexts when discussing bodily functions.

Common Collocations

  • 尿 (niàoyè): urine (the liquid itself)
  • 尿 (niàopín): frequent urination
  • 控制尿 (kòngzhì niào): control urination

Usage Notes

"尿" is a neutral term but is often considered informal or somewhat blunt in polite conversation. In formal or medical contexts, 尿 is preferred. When talking about children or pets, 尿尿 (niàoniào) is a common reduplication used to soften the expression, similar to "pee" in English.

Common Confusions

Don't confuse 尿 with 尿 (páiniào), which specifically means "to urinate" as an action. 尿 can refer to the substance (urine) or the act depending on context. Also, 尿尿 is a colloquial way to say "to pee," often used with children.

Example Sentences

Young children still can't control their urination.

The doctor suggests drinking more water to promote urine excretion.

He went to the bathroom to urinate frequently because he drank too much