Meaning and Usage
The verb 撵 (niǎn) primarily means 'to chase away' or 'to drive out.' It is often used in contexts where someone or something is being forced to leave a place, such as a person being expelled or an animal being chased off.
Common Collocations
These collocations emphasize the action of forcing departure.
Usage Notes
撵 is typically used in informal or colloquial contexts and often implies a somewhat forceful or abrupt action. It is more direct and sometimes harsher than similar verbs like 赶 (gǎn), which also means 'to drive away.'
Avoiding Confusion
Do not confuse 撵 with 赶, which can be more neutral or polite. 撵 often carries a stronger tone of expulsion or rejection.
Summary
Use 撵 when you want to express the idea of forcefully chasing or driving someone or something away, especially in everyday spoken Chinese.