曰

yuē

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

yuē (verb) to speak; to say

Etymology

Depicts a line, representing speech, coming out of a mouth (口).

About

曰 is an ideogram of a mouth (口) with a horizontal stroke inside, representing the breath or sound of speech. It functions as a verb meaning "to say", "to call", or "to name", and is a foundational component in many characters related to speech and communication. While its use as an independent verb for "to say" is now largely confined to classical texts, historical literature, and set idioms, it remains a crucial building block in modern compound characters.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈曰要早点睡觉。

Māma yuē yào zǎodiǎn shuìjiào.

Mom said to go to bed early.

他曰他喜欢读书。

Tā yuē tā xǐhuān dúshū.

He said he likes reading.

昨天老师曰明天有考试。

Zuótiān lǎoshī yuē míngtiān yǒu kǎoshì.

Yesterday the teacher said there is an exam tomorrow.

她曰为什么不去公园？

Tā yuē wèishénme bù qù gōngyuán?

She said why not go to the park?

爸爸曰如果下雨就不出门。

Bàba yuē rúguǒ xià yǔ jiù bù chūmén.

Dad said if it rains, we won't go out.

校长在会议上曰学生应该努力学习。

Xiàozhǎng zài huìyì shàng yuē xuéshēng yīnggāi nǔlì xuéxí.

The principal said at the meeting that students should study hard.

他曰虽然很忙但他会帮忙。

Tā yuē suīrán hěn máng dàn tā huì bāngmáng.

He said although he is busy, he will help.

在报告中专家曰气候变化是严峻的挑战。

Zài bàogào zhōng zhuānjiā yuē qìhòu biànhuà shì yánjùn de tiǎozhàn.

In the report, the expert said climate change is a severe challenge.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 曰

Example Words