语言 (yǔyán)

语言 refers to language as a system of communication, broader than 语法 (yǔfǎ, grammar) and more formal than 话 (huà, speech/words).

Meanings

[noun] language; tongue; means of communication

Example Sentences

汉语是世界上使用人数最多的语言之一。 Hànyǔ shì shìjiè shàng shǐyòng rénshù zuì duō de yǔyán zhī yī. Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.

学习一门外语需要时间和耐心。 Xuéxí yī mén wàiyǔ xūyào shíjiān hé nàixīn. Learning a foreign language requires time and patience.

音乐是一种没有国界的语言。 Yīnyuè shì yī zhǒng méiyǒu guójiè de yǔyán. Music is a language without borders.

不同的语言有不同的语法结构。 Bùtóng de yǔyán yǒu bùtóng de yǔfǎ jiégòu. Different languages have different grammatical structures.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
外语	foreign language
语言学习	language learning
语言能力	language ability
母语	mother tongue

Memory Hook

语 means "speech/words" and 言 also means "speech/words" — 语言 doubles up on the idea of spoken expression, making "language" unforgettable.