语

語

yǔ, yù

吾 + 讠

Definitions

yǔ (noun) language; speech

yǔ (noun) idiom; proverb; saying

yǔ (verb) speak

Etymology

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

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 吾

About

The character 语, simplified from 語, is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic radical 讠 (speech) indicates a connection to language and verbal communication. The component 吾 on the right serves primarily as the phonetic element, though it historically meant "I" or "me". The character's core meaning refers to spoken words, language, dialogue, and the act of conversation. It forms the basis for many compound words related to linguistics, grammar, specific languages, and the expression of ideas through structured speech.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他会说英语。

Tā huì shuō Yīngyǔ.

He can speak English.

语言是交流的工具。

Yǔyán shì jiāoliú de gōngjù.

Language is a tool for communication.

学习语法很重要。

Xuéxí yǔfǎ hěn zhòngyào.

Learning grammar is very important.

她用温柔的语气安慰我。

Tā yòng wēnróu de yǔqì ānwèi wǒ.

She comforted me in a gentle tone.

这门课程主要研究语义学。

Zhè mén kèchéng zhǔyào yánjiū yǔyìxué.

This course mainly studies semantics.

专家们正在分析这段古代语料。

Zhuānjiāmen zhèngzài fēnxī zhè duàn gǔdài yǔliào.

Experts are analyzing this piece of ancient language material.

语用学关注语言在实际中的使用。

Yǔyòngxué guānzhù yǔyán zài shíjì zhōng de shǐyòng.

Pragmatics focuses on the use of language in practice.

语料库对语言学研究至关重要。

Yǔliàokù duì yǔyánxué yánjiū zhìguān zhòngyào.

Corpora are crucial for linguistic research.

Related Characters

Component: 吾

Component: 讠

语