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語 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
語yǔwords, language; saying, expressionx, 14 strokes, radical 言
yǔ(yu3) T3
  1. 1words, language; saying, expression
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

語yǔ(yu3)

The character 語 (yǔ) refers to 'words' or 'language,' encompassing both spoken and written forms of communication. It is commonly used in contexts involving linguistics, expressions, or dialects, highlighting the importance of language in culture and social interactions.

Strokes14Radical言
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, language is not just a means of communication but also a reflection of one's identity and heritage. The concept of dialects is significant, with various regions having their unique linguistic expressions, which are vital for cultural preservation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant ear (耳) catching words (語) floating in the air. The ear represents listening, which is essential for understanding language. The pronunciation 'yǔ' can remind you of 'you'—as in 'you speak, you listen, you learn.'

Meanings of 語

yǔ(yu3)
1words, language; saying, expression
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 語 means.

About 語

語Simplified
14Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 語

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Podcast: 語

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AI Study Notes for 語

Quick Contrast

言 (yán) — use 語 (yǔ) for broader contexts of language or dialects, while 言 (yán) often emphasizes spoken words or expressions.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 語 with the character 语 (yǔ), which is a simplified form used in Mainland China. In formal contexts, 語 is often used in literary or academic discussions, while 语 is more common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 語言 (yǔyán, language) and 語法 (yǔfǎ, grammar).

HSK Study Tips

Although 語 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it enriches your grasp of language-related terms. Focus on related words such as 語言 (yǔyán) and 語法 (yǔfǎ) to see how this character fits within the broader context of language study.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 語 in informal settings when simplified 语 is more appropriate. For example, saying '我学了很多語' instead of '我学了很多语' can sound overly formal in casual conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 語

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Jason Explains 語 to You

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Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 語 through them.

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Etymology of 語

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 語. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 吾 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

words

Semantic (meaning)言
+
Phonetic (sound)吾
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

語 = 言 + 吾. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 語

IDS Structure⿰言吾
語Full Character
=
言yan2
left
吾Wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 語?

How to say words, language; saying, expression in Chinese

“words, language; saying, expression” in Chinese is語yǔ

The character 語 (yǔ) refers to 'words' or 'language,' encompassing both spoken and written forms of communication. It is commonly used in contexts involving linguistics, expressions, or dialects, highlighting the importance of language in culture and social interactions.

When to use 語

Be careful not to confuse 語 with the character 语 (yǔ), which is a simplified form used in Mainland China. In formal contexts, 語 is often used in literary or academic discussions, while 语 is more common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 語言 (yǔyán, language) and 語法 (yǔfǎ, grammar).

語 or something close to it

言 (yán) — use 語 (yǔ) for broader contexts of language or dialects, while 言 (yán) often emphasizes spoken words or expressions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 語 in informal settings when simplified 语 is more appropriate. For example, saying '我学了很多語' instead of '我学了很多语' can sound overly formal in casual conversation.

Write 語

語

Practice writing 語 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 語

Words Containing This Character20
语yǔdialect語
语言yǔyánlanguage語言
英语yīngyǔEnglish (language)英語
法语fǎyǔFrench (language)法語
西班牙语xībānyáyǔSpanish language西班牙語
语气yǔqìtone語氣
语音yǔyīnspeech sounds語音
言语yányǔwords言語
语文literature and language語文
话语huàyǔwords話語
汉语hànyǔChinese language漢語
咒语spell咒語
外语wàiyǔforeign language外語
德语German (language)德語
标语biāoyǔplacard標語
词语cíyǔexpression詞語
俄语éyǔRussian (language)俄語
日语rìyǔJapanese language日語
术语term術語
自言自语zìyánzìyǔto talk to oneself自言自語
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 語

What does 语 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 語

語 is the traditional form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, while 语 is the simplified form used in Mainland China.

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