语言 (yǔ yán) — language in Mandarin
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#529 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
语言 is pronounced yǔ yán. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Xuéxí yǔ yán xūyào hěnduō shíjiān.
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 语言 mean?+
语言 (yǔ yán) means "language" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 语言?+
语言 is pronounced yǔ yán. It uses the tone 3 (rising/dipping), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 语言 in Mandarin?+
语言 is the #529 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 语言 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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Browse more on the Mandarin vocabulary hub, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.