言 meaning and stroke order
Words, speech; to speak, to say
How to write 言, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Meaning of 言
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- words
- speech
- to say
- to talk
How 言 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A tongue sticking out of a mouth 口.
How to remember 言
Picture a mouth 口 at the bottom with lines rising above it, like a tongue and sound waves coming out. Words come out of the mouth, so 言 (yán) means speech.
言 is rarely used alone in everyday speech, where 说 (shuō) is the normal word for "to say." It mostly appears in compounds and formal phrases, such as 语言 (yǔyán) and 留言 (liúyán). Example: 请给我留言。 (Qǐng gěi wǒ liúyán.) Please leave me a message.
Common mistake: Learners often say 言 when they mean "to say" in conversation, as in 他言… instead of 他说… (tā shuō). Also, inside other characters 言 is simplified to 讠, so do not write the full form in characters like 说 or 话.
Common words with 言
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 语言 | yǔyán | language | HSK 2 |
| 发言 | fāyán | to make a speech; statement | HSK 3 |
| 言语 | yányǔ | words; speech | HSK 5 |
| 留言 | liúyán | to leave a message; to leave one's comments; message | HSK 6 |
| 传言 | chuányán | rumor; hearsay | HSK 6 |
| 自言自语 | zìyán-zìyǔ | (idiom) to talk to oneself; to think aloud; to soliloquize | HSK 6 |
| 发言人 | fāyánrén | spokesperson | HSK 6 |
| 谎言 | huǎngyán | lie | HSK 7-9 |
| 预言 | yùyán | to predict; prophecy | HSK 7-9 |
| 谣言 | yáoyán | rumor | HSK 7-9 |
| 诺言 | nuòyán | promise | HSK 7-9 |
| 言论 | yánlùn | expression of opinion; views | HSK 7-9 |
| 宣言 | xuānyán | declaration; manifesto | HSK 7-9 |
| 总而言之 | zǒng'éryánzhī | in short; in a word | HSK 7-9 |
言 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 言
Learning 言 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 言
How many strokes are in 言?
言 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 言 mean?
言 (yán) means words, speech; to speak, to say. A common word with it is 语言 (yǔyán), meaning "language".
How do you pronounce 言?
言 is pronounced yán, in the second tone (rising).
Is 言 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 言 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 言 and 语?
Both relate to speech and often pair up, as in 语言 (yǔyán) and 言语 (yányǔ). 语 (yǔ) leans toward language and what is spoken, while 言 leans toward the act of speaking or a statement. In compounds you should learn each word as a whole.
Why does 讠 look different from 言?
讠 is the simplified side form of 言 used when it is a component on the left, as in 说 (shuō) and 话 (huà). When 言 stands alone or sits at the bottom of a character, like in 警 (jǐng), it keeps its full shape.