字 字源HanziOrigin
中文EnglishFrançaisEspañolالعربيةРусский
言
yán
words
At a glance · 言

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

言 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 言 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 言 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 言 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 言 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 言 Regular script
    Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

「言」甲骨文从舌从一，象舌上有声气出，指事表言。

What the sketch shows

言 Object sketch

Origins & notes

「言」本义为说话、言语，引申言论、字句。

Structure

从舌、从一，指事字，一示言出于舌上，本为言语。

At a glance

Pinyinyán
Radical言
Strokes7
UnicodeU+8A00
Character type指事
Theme人伦

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English words words, speech; speak, say; Kangxi radical 149
Français parole Parole, langage. «言辞安定» : paroles calmes et assurées.
Español palabra Palabra, lenguaje. «言辞安定»: palabras calmas y seguras.
العربية قول قول، لغة. «言辞安定»: أقوال هادئة واثقة.
Русский слово Слово, речь. «言辞安定»: спокойные и уверенные слова.

Common words

  • 语言yǔ yánlanguage
  • 言论yán lùnspeech

Related characters

誉