语yǔ
Character evolution
语
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Simplified · Today
繁体
Traditional Chinese
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Shuowen
The character 语 combines 言 (speech) with 吾 (I, myself) as a phonetic component, depicting words spoken by oneself; in oracle bone inscriptions it represented speech or discourse, emphasizing the personal act of uttering. The left side 言, depicting a tongue emerging from a mouth, serves as the semantic radical for language and communication, while the right side 吾 provides the sound. This structure reflects the original meaning of words proceeding from the speaker, later expanding to denote language, speech, or conversation in general.
Pinyin
yǔ· HSK 1