The doping of rare earth ion Pr3 and Nd3 has unique sensitization effect on the luminescence of upconversion materials. In the submitted work, the energy transfer mechanisms between Pr3 /Nd3 and Er3 were investigated in NaLuF4:Yb3 ,Er3 nanocrystals codoped with Pr3 or Nd3 ions. NaLuF4:Yb3 ,Er3 nanocrystals codoped with Pr3 or Nd3 ions were synthesized by hydrothermal method which had an average diameter of 15 nm and hexagonal phase structures. The luminescent properties analysis indicated that the intensity ratio of 656 nm red to 544 nm green emission decreases with increasing the content of Pr3 ions. But, a completely contrary variation was observed with increasing the content of Nd3 ions. The energy transfer between Pr3 and Er3 or between Nd3 and Er3 were investigated based on the power dependence of emission intensity and simplified energy diagram, which indicated that the population of 4I11/2 state of Er3 ions plays a key role in many transitions.