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寓言 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
寓言yùyánfableHSK 7, n, 19 strokes, rank #25910, Very Hard
yùyán(yu4yan2)yu yan T4
  1. 1fable
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March 24, 2026

寓言yùyán(yu4yan2)

寓言 (yùyán) refers to a fable, which is a short story that typically features animals as characters and conveys a moral lesson. In Chinese literature, fables are often used to teach ethical values and illustrate human behaviors, making them a popular tool in education and storytelling.

Strokes19Frequency#25910DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

寓言 are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, with famous collections like 'Aesop's Fables' and Chinese classics such as 'The Butterfly Lovers' illustrating moral lessons that reflect societal values and philosophy.

Memory tip

Imagine a wise old owl (representing 'yù') telling a story (the 'yán') to a group of young animals. The owl's tales are filled with lessons, helping the young ones learn important morals through the fables they hear.

Meanings of 寓言

yùyán(yu4yan2)
1fable
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 寓言

寓言Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#25910Frequency Rank
则Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 寓言

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Podcast: 寓言

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AI study notes for 寓言

Quick Contrast

寓言 (yùyán) vs 故事 (gùshì) — choose 寓言 when emphasizing a moral lesson through a fable, while 故事 is a more general term for any story.

Usage Notes

When using 寓言, it's important to make sure the context is appropriate for discussing morals or lessons. A common mistake is confusing it with 短篇小说 (duǎnpiān xiǎoshuō), which means short stories without the moral implication. Remember that 寓言 is often used in educational or literary discussions.

HSK Study Tips

At HSK Level 6, students should focus on understanding the moral implications behind fables and how they are used in Chinese storytelling. This word connects to other literary terms and expressions related to moral lessons and storytelling techniques.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 寓言 with 故事 (gùshì), which means story in general. An incorrect usage might be saying '我喜欢寓言的故事' (I like the stories of fables), when it should be '我喜欢寓言' to specifically refer to fables.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 寓言

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Component characters

寓yùto reside
HSK 712 strokes宀
View full entry
言yánwords
7 strokes言
View full entry

How to say fable in Chinese

“fable” in Chinese is寓言yùyán

寓言 (yùyán) refers to a fable, which is a short story that typically features animals as characters and conveys a moral lesson. In Chinese literature, fables are often used to teach ethical values and illustrate human behaviors, making them a popular tool in education and storytelling.

When to use 寓言

When using 寓言, it's important to make sure the context is appropriate for discussing morals or lessons. A common mistake is confusing it with 短篇小说 (duǎnpiān xiǎoshuō), which means short stories without the moral implication. Remember that 寓言 is often used in educational or literary discussions.

寓言 or something close to it

寓言 (yùyán) vs 故事 (gùshì) — choose 寓言 when emphasizing a moral lesson through a fable, while 故事 is a more general term for any story.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 寓言 with 故事 (gùshì), which means story in general. An incorrect usage might be saying '我喜欢寓言的故事' (I like the stories of fables), when it should be '我喜欢寓言' to specifically refer to fables.

Write 寓言

寓
言

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

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Grammar patterns of 寓言

寓言 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这则古老的____流传了数个世纪。

The old fable continues to echo down the centuries.

Example sentences for 寓言 (3)

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1
这则古老的寓言流传了数个世纪。

zhè zé gǔlǎo de yùyán liúchuán le shù gè shìjì。

The old fable continues to echo down the centuries.
2
请原谅我这样问你, 但我敢说, 你使我想起了那则寓言.

qǐng yuánliàng wǒ zhèyàng wèn nǐ, dàn wǒ gǎn shuō, nǐ shǐ wǒ xiǎngqǐ le nà zé yùyán.

You excuse me, I daresay, but you remind me of that fable.
3
这篇寓言登在下一页上.

zhè piān yùyán dēng zài xià yī yè shàng.

The fable is given on the next page.

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Cultural Notes for 寓言

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While fables exist in both cultures, Western fables often focus on direct moral lessons, whereas Chinese fables might incorporate more subtlety and context within their teachings.

Frequently asked questions about 寓言

寓言 refers to stories that typically feature animals and convey moral lessons, making them distinct from regular short stories.

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