TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 · 字
呢
呢 ＝ 口 ＋ 尼
˙ㄋㄜ · ne
particle — sentence-final: and …?; still
字源 FORM — what the parts do
尼聲ní — gives the sound
Tní → ne — worn toneless in speech
A mouth (口) beside 尼 ní for sound, worn toneless — the syllable that hands the question back: 你呢？
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
話說完了，嘴（口）還開著——你呢？
The sentence ends, the mouth (口) still open — and you?
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)句尾問詞：你呢？— the bounce-back question常用
→還早呢、想著呢— the lingering "still" — holds the moment open
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
尼níthe sound donor — 尼姑's 尼