Chinese–EnglishWith examples

语言

yǔ yán · yu yan

Traditional 語言

HSK 2Old HSK 4Measure words: 门 mén, 种 zhǒng

Meaning

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  1. language
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In a conversation

0:21 cartoon

The language of music

  1. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)学(xué)一门(yīmén)新(xīn)语言(yǔyán)。

    I want to learn a new language.

  2. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)！法语(fǎyǔ)？日语(rìyǔ)？

    Good! French? Japanese?

  3. Liangliang

    都(dōu)不是(bùshì)，我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)学(xué)音乐(yīnyuè)这门(zhèmén)语言(yǔyán)。

    Neither. I want to learn the language of music.

  4. Dengdeng

    音乐(yīnyuè)是(shì)语言(yǔyán)？那(nà)你(nǐ)听听(tīngtīng)，我(wǒ)现在(xiànzài)唱(chàng)的(de)是(shì)什么(shénme)意思(yìsi)？

    Music is a language? Then listen: what does my singing mean right now?

  5. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)唱(chàng)的(de)是(shì)……请(qǐng)不要(bùyào)再(zài)唱(chàng)了(le)。

    What you are singing is... "please stop singing".

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

人(rén)们(men)相(xiāng)信(xìn)鲸(jīng)有(yǒu)他(tā)们(men)自(zì)己(jǐ)的(de)语(yǔ)言(yán)。

It is believed that whales have their own language.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by CM · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

阿(ā)拉(lā)伯(bó)语(yǔ)是(shì)一(yì)种(zhǒng)很(hěn)重(zhòng)要(yào)的(de)语(yǔ)言(yán)。

Arabic is a very important language.

Tatoeba: Chinese by sysko · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
语
yǔ

dialect; language

言
yán

words; speech

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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