Náo 猱 “Brisk and Nimble”

A type of returning portamento. Pluck a string then bend it to slide down-up-down or, bend a string then pluck it for an up-down-up series of slides. To quote Han 2013: “Nao is very effective in expressing gentle, sad, or elegant emotions. Although it is used in all styles, southern styles are particularly famous for applying it.” It is meant to evoke the motions of a type of monkey, a secondary meaning of the character.