<p>I was taught at class, that <em>zhan</em> is the reading when 粘 is used as a <strong>verb</strong>, 'to stick, to glue'; the more common reading <em>nian</em> covers almost all the other cases, when its used as an <strong>adjective</strong>, 'sticky'. But I think this is not entirely correct. </p>

<p>Here's a <a href="http://zidian.qihaoming.com.cn/zd/zi_16255ec.html" rel="nofollow">long list</a> with <em>compound words</em>. In most cases the reading is <em>nian</em>, in some cases <em>zhan</em>. Try to see if you can find a rule. </p>

<p>Interestingly, the Taiwanese Education Ministry's dictionary only lists <a href="http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/newDict/dict.sh?cond=%D6%DF&amp;pieceLen=50&amp;fld=1&amp;cat=&amp;ukey=423706689&amp;serial=1&amp;recNo=1&amp;op=f&amp;imgFont=1" rel="nofollow">nian</a> as reading. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-10T19:24:04.643Z
2015-07-10T19:24:04.643Z
imrek
<p>Originally, you had two separate characters (<a href="http://www.zdic.net/z/20/js/7C98.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">zdic</a> <a href="http://www.zdic.net/z/29/js/9ECF.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">links</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>粘 = zhan1 = (v.) to stick</p>
<p>黏 = nian2 = (adj.) sticky</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The usage distinction still remains, but it is now acceptable to use <code>粘</code> for either word. Unihan <a href="http://www.unicode.org/cgi-bin/GetUnihanData.pl?codepoint=%E7%B2%98" rel="nofollow noreferrer">lists the characters as semantic variants</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-11T04:00:55.317Z
There is an article on this subject [『黏』『粘』『沾』有什麼不同？][1]
The gist is that as noted above 黏 is a stative verb, and 粘 is a verb (intransitive and transitive). It also adds the word 沾 to the mix, but this seems to be a red herring.

There's probably more to be said on this. I'll add if I find more examples/material.

  [1]: http://big5.hwjyw.com/teacher_hua/200910/t20091026_32980.shtml
wpt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-10T19:23:01.647Z
2015-07-10T19:23:01.647Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Stumpy Joe Pete
<p>From a native Chinese perspective:
粘(zhan) = 粘 (nian1) = to glue, to stick = verb.
粘(nian2) = 黏 (nian2) = sticky = adj.</p>

<p>Although 黏 is more used in written, while 粘(nian2) is more oral.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-11T01:34:21.180Z
2015-07-11T01:34:21.180Z
shenkwen
<p>粘 can be read as either "nian" or "zhan", but in both way it can be translated as "sticky", so what is the difference?
In other words what should I take in mind, when reading a text , in order to understand which pronunciation I should use?</p>

<pronunciation>
The two pronunciations of 粘
# The two pronunciations of 粘

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-10)

粘 can be read as either "nian" or "zhan", but in both way it can be translated as "sticky", so what is the difference?
In other words what should I take in mind, when reading a text , in order to understand which pronunciation I should use?

**Tags:** pronunciation

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-07-10. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

I was taught at class, that *zhan* is the reading when 粘 is used as a **verb**, 'to stick, to glue'; the more common reading *nian* covers almost all the other cases, when its used as an **adjective**, 'sticky'. But I think this is not entirely correct.

Here's a [long list](http://zidian.qihaoming.com.cn/zd/zi_16255ec.html) with *compound words*. In most cases the reading is *nian*, in some cases *zhan*. Try to see if you can find a rule.

Interestingly, the Taiwanese Education Ministry's dictionary only lists [nian](http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/newDict/dict.sh?cond=%D6%DF&pieceLen=50&fld=1&cat=&ukey=423706689&serial=1&recNo=1&op=f&imgFont=1) as reading.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-07-10. Score: 3

Originally, you had two separate characters ([zdic](http://www.zdic.net/z/20/js/7C98.htm) [links](http://www.zdic.net/z/29/js/9ECF.htm)):

> 粘 = zhan1 = (v.) to stick
>
> 黏 = nian2 = (adj.) sticky

The usage distinction still remains, but it is now acceptable to use `粘` for either word. Unihan [lists the characters as semantic variants](http://www.unicode.org/cgi-bin/GetUnihanData.pl?codepoint=%E7%B2%98).

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: There is an article on this subject [『黏』『粘』『沾』有什麼不同？][1] The gist is that as noted above 黏 is a stative verb, and 粘 is a verb (intransitive and transitive). It also adds the word 沾 to the mix, but this seems to be a red herring.  There's probably more to be said on this. I'll add if I find more examples/material.    [1]: http://big5.hwjyw.com/teacher_hua/200910/t20091026_32980.shtml  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-07-11. Score: 2

From a native Chinese perspective:
粘(zhan) = 粘 (nian1) = to glue, to stick = verb.
粘(nian2) = 黏 (nian2) = sticky = adj.

Although 黏 is more used in written, while 粘(nian2) is more oral.


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