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言谈 (yán tán) — speech, conversation; manner of speaking; discourse, utterance

Definition

言谈 (yán tán) is a more formal, written-style word for 'one's speech and manner of speaking' — broader than just the words said; it covers how a person expresses themselves. It pairs naturally with 举止, as in 言谈举止 ('speech and deportment').

noun
speechconversationmanner of speakingdiscourseutterance

Examples

  • 。
    Tā de yán tán jǔ zhǐ hěn yǒu jiào yǎng.
    His speech and manners are very cultured.
  • 言谈，。
    yán tán Zhī jiān, tā liú lù chū duì wèi lái de dān yōu.
    During the conversation, she revealed her worries about the future.
  • 言谈。
    Yí gè rén de yán tán néng fǎn yìng tā de xué shí.
    A person's speech can reflect his knowledge.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

言yánspeech
谈tántalk

言谈 brings together 言 'speech' and 谈 'talk' for conversation or manner of speaking.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →

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 談; 谈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
炎
炎yán談tán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 谈, the traditional form 談 pairs 言 (speech) with 炎 (yán) as the sound part.

Open 谈 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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