语言 (yǔ yán) — language | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

语言 is the general word for 'language' as a system (Chinese, English, a national language). 汉语 specifically means Chinese, while 言语 leans toward spoken words/speech.

noun

language

Measure word · 门, 种

Examples

语言。
Wǒ xǐ huan xué xí bù tóng de yǔ yán.
I like learning different languages.
语言。
Zhè ge yǔ yán hěn nán xué.
This language is very hard to learn.
语言。
Shì jiè shàng yǒu hěn duō zhǒng yǔ yán.
There are many kinds of languages in the world.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

语yǔlanguage

Both 语 and 言 refer to speech or language, so together they mean language.

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.

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

言吾語

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 3 HSK 2.0 Level 4 Language 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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