NE-0

('ne' in the neutal tone)

There are just five standard Chinese characters that have a 'ne' pronunciation, and for three of them, 'ne' is just a colloquial altedrnative pronunciation of 'na'.

呢 = this character / morpheme can be placed at the end of sentences that do not have the final past tense marker 了 = le(-), in order to indicate a continuous state, or a rhetorical question, lor just for emphasis.

现在还早呢. = Xian(4)zai(4) hai(2) zao(3) ne(-). = It is still early now.

The 呢 can be added, but it is not a necessity.

现在还早. = Xian(4)zai(4) hai(2) zao(3). = It is still early now.

还早呢. = Hai(2) zao(3) ne(-). = It is still early.

还早. = Hai(2) zao(3). = It is still early.

还早上呢. = Hai(2) zao(3)shang(-) ne(-). = It is still morning.