拧
nǐng , nìng · HSK 7
to twist
🤏 扌 hand + 宁 níng phonetic; the hand action that twists, wrings, or pinches
Hand radical 扌 carries the meaning of a physical action; 宁 níng supplies the sound. The same character twisting between nǐng (to wring) and nìng (stubborn, contrary), like a hand that won't stop twisting.
拧 — hand radical 扌 + 宁 (níng, phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 indicates a manual action, while 宁 supplies the sound. The character means to twist, pinch, or wring with the hands, extending to ideas like wringing out cloth or, in the nìng reading, being stubborn or contrary.