How to Write 语 (yǔ) — Meaning “language or speech”

Imagine 'five mouths' (五 + 口) all talking at the same time — that is a lot of speech! The radical 讠on the left reminds you that this is about words or speaking, so 语 is language.

Write the radical 讠 first with a dot, then a horizontal stroke that turns into a hook. Then write the right part 吾: start with the top horizontal, then the vertical strokes, and finally the bottom 'mouth' (口). Keep the left radical narrow and the right part wider to balance the character.

语 has 吾 (five + mouth) on the right and means 'language.' 证 has 正 (correct) on the right and means 'proof' or 'certificate.' 诂 has 古 (old) on the right and is used only in specialized terms about explaining ancient texts. The different right-side components give you the clue.

语 is a common character in words for languages, such as 汉语 (Chinese), 英语 (English), and 语法 (grammar). It appears in everyday conversations about language learning and communication. Culturally, it is central to Chinese education because mastering 汉语 is essential for most students.

Common words containing 语 include: 汉语 (hàn yǔ) — Chinese language; 语言 (yǔ yán) — language; 语法 (yǔ fǎ) — grammar.