
1 minute read
“NE”
from issue 4 fall 2021
呢 呢 Silvia Wang “NE”
My favorite sound in Mandarin. Not a word, often lost in translation, Impossible to explain, yet essential
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Nuanced in use, it comes naturally A telltale sign of native fluency Or learned proficiency
Disrupts the dissonance of charged conversation A peace offering, an upwards inflection Marking sweet exchanges at the dinner table
The trailing tail of a sentence, Used for emphasis, persistence, Or to soften your words In a language that is vibrant with distinct, sharp tones Clashing syllables on a bustling street Vendors selling fresh produce on a city block
A sound that mediates, Cools the jarring collisions of argument Can add a warmth, a missing tenderness
Or readily invites a response, In an endearing question to a loved one “Ni ne?”