nien

Nien is a term that functions primarily as a proper noun in several contexts. It may appear as a given name or a family name in some East Asian and diaspora communities, though it is not among the most common modern names in any single country.

In popular culture, Nien is best known as the given name of Nien Nunb, a Sullustan pilot in the Star Wars franchise. Nien Nunb first appears in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and is remembered for piloting the Millennium Falcon alongside Lando Calrissian during the attack on the second Death Star.

In linguistic and transliteration contexts, "nien" can be encountered as an alternate or historical romanization of the Mandarin syllable nián, which in standard pinyin represents the word for "year." The spelling "nien" has appeared in older or non-pinyin transliteration systems, and may be found in archival texts or in romanizations of other East Asian languages. This usage is contextual and typically noted within discussions of language history or transliteration practices rather than as a current standard spelling.

Because it lacks a single, dominant definition, "nien" is usually understood through its specific context—as a name, a transliteration variant, or a fictional character’s given name. Related terms include "nian" and "Nián," which refer more broadly to the Chinese word for year or to standard romanizations in contemporary usage.