訥

The core idea: “speech that does not flow smoothly.”

Phono-semantic compound:

言 (말씀 언) — semantic component, relates to speech, language, utterance

內 (안 내) — phonetic component, gives the sound (nèi / neul / nul), contributing the slow, inward nuance

Thus 訥 originally meant “speech (言) that remains inside (內), not coming out smoothly.”

This metaphor aligns perfectly with the definition difficulty in speaking / stammering / being slow of speech.

In Korean, 訥(눌) is uncommon in everyday usage but appears in literary, academic, or descriptive contexts related to stammering or awkward speech.

Speech difficulty:

訥訥 (눌눌) — 말이 느리고 더듬거림; stammering, slow speech

訥口 (눌구) — 말더듬는 입; stammering

質訥 (질눌) — 꾸밈없고 말이 서툼; plain and halting in speech

Modesty / unpolished speech (classical):

訥言 (눌언) — 꾸밈없는 말, 말에 서투름; awkward or plain speech

訥然 (눌연) — 말이 굼뜨고 서투르다; slow and hesitant

Rare / dialectal usage:

속음 늘 appears in certain place names, reflecting nonstandard Sino-Korean development.

訥 does not form many modern Korean compounds; it is primarily a descriptive literary character.

Although 訥 literally means “stammering,” many classical texts use it positively:

- slow, honest, unpretentious speech

- the opposite of 巧言 (“glib tongue”)

Thus 訥 often carries a moral tone — genuine, modest, unembellished character.

Confucian commentaries often contrast 訥 with “巧言” — fluent, superficial speech.

Distinction from related characters:

吃 (기) — stammer, “to stutter”

唖 (아) — mute, unable to speak

訥 (눌) — slow, halting speech

訥 focuses on slowness and difficulty, not muteness or pathological stuttering.

Classical citations:

《後漢書·鄭玄傳》 (Book of the Later Han)

「玄少而質訥。」

“Zheng Xuan in his youth was plain and slow of speech.”

《北史·裴讓之傳》 (History of the Northern Dynasties)

「性質訥，不善言辯。」

“He was naturally plain and halting in speech, not good at argument.”

《文選·潘岳〈西征賦〉》 (Wenxuan, Anthology of Literature)

「訥言以自守。」

“He guarded himself by speaking little and haltingly” — Here 訥 implies humility, not incompetence.

《唐書·薛收傳》 (Old Book of Tang)

「收貌質訥，而才高。」

“His appearance was plain and his speech hesitant, yet his talent was great.”

Shows the moral nuance: 訥 can imply modesty rather than inability.