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俄语 (E yǔ) — Russian language

Definition

noun
Russian language

Examples

  • 俄语。
    Wǒ huì shuō E yǔ.
    I can speak Russian.
  • 俄语。
    Tā zhèng zài xué E yǔ.
    He is learning Russian.
  • 俄语？
    E yǔ Hěn nán ma?
    Is Russian very difficult?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

俄éRussia
语yǔlanguage

俄 Russia + 语 language: the language of Russia.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ俄é
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

俄 pairs 亻 (person) with 我, which gives the sound.

Open 俄 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú語yǔ
Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

Open 语 →
Appears in
Language

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