jin4 jyu5言語言语
Jyutpingjin4 jyu5
Yaleyìhn yúh
Definition
Speech; spoken language; what is expressed through words.
neutralcommunication
How it's used
Refers specifically to the choice of words or the manner of speaking rather than a language system like Cantonese or English. It often carries a slightly formal or critical tone when used to describe someone's verbal output. In casual daily life, people usually prefer using 講嘢 or 說話 instead.
Examples
The language he uses is very vulgar.
Why do you use this kind of language to attack people?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 語言, which refers to a language as a system of communication. Using 言語 to mean a specific language like English or French is incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
