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讠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
讠yánwords, speech; to speak, to sayzg, 2 strokes, radical 讠
讠yán"speech" or "words" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 149)unknown, 2 strokes, radical 讠
yán(yan2) T2
  1. 1words, speech; to speak, to say
  2. 2"speech" or "words" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 149)
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March 24, 2026

讠(訁)yán(yan2)

The character 讠 (yán) is a variant of 言 and is used as a radical connected to speech and communication. It represents concepts related to words, speech, and the act of saying something. Commonly found in characters that pertain to communication, it emphasizes the importance of verbal expression in Chinese.

Strokes2Radical讠
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of speaking holds significant importance, especially in settings like family gatherings where communication strengthens relationships. The emphasis on language reflects a broader cultural value placed on harmony and understanding.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person speaking (讠) with a megaphone, projecting their voice out into the world. The left side of the character resembles a mouth, which helps you remember that it relates to speech and communication.

Meanings of 讠

yán(yan2)
1words, speech; to speak, to say
2"speech" or "words" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 149)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 讠

讠Simplified
訁Traditional
2Strokes
讠Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 讠

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Podcast: 讠

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AI Study Notes for 讠

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 讠 with similar radicals or characters. It is primarily used in formal contexts related to speech or communication. Common collocations include words like 语言 (yǔyán, language) and 言论 (yánlùn, speech or opinion).

HSK Study Tips

Although 讠 itself is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is integral to many words at HSK levels 2 and 3. Focus on learning characters that include this radical to enhance your understanding of words related to speech.

Common Mistakes

Learners often overlook the radical nature of 讠 and fail to recognize its role in forming other characters. For example, mistaking 讠 for 口 (kǒu, mouth) can lead to confusion; remember that 讠 specifically relates to words and speech rather than just the physical act of talking.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 讠

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Etymology of 讠

Explanation

讠 is a component form of 言.

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Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 讠

讠 is a component form of 言.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

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How to say words, speech; to speak, to say in Chinese

“words, speech; to speak, to say” in Chinese is讠yán

The character 讠 (yán) is a variant of 言 and is used as a radical connected to speech and communication. It represents concepts related to words, speech, and the act of saying something. Commonly found in characters that pertain to communication, it emphasizes the importance of verbal expression in Chinese.

When to use 讠

Be cautious not to confuse 讠 with similar radicals or characters. It is primarily used in formal contexts related to speech or communication. Common collocations include words like 语言 (yǔyán, language) and 言论 (yánlùn, speech or opinion).

What learners get wrong

Learners often overlook the radical nature of 讠 and fail to recognize its role in forming other characters. For example, mistaking 讠 for 口 (kǒu, mouth) can lead to confusion; remember that 讠 specifically relates to words and speech rather than just the physical act of talking.

Write 讠

讠

Practice writing 讠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 讠

Words Containing This Character1
讠yánsee also 言字旁[yán​zì​páng]訁
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 讠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 讠

In everyday conversation, 讠 is often associated with discussing speech or communication-related topics.

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