懂中文 Dong Chinese

言

yán

speech

Pictograph of a tongue (舌) sticking out of a mouth. In old scripts 言 was written the same as 舌 but with an extra line.

Components
◎ iconic component

◎  Iconic component

  

characterless component

Depicts movement of the tongue coming out of the mouth.

舌 iconic component

舌  Iconic component

shé

  

tongue

Evolution

言 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
言 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
言 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
言 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
言 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

言  

yán

words, speech; speak, say; words; speech; to say; to talk

Most common words with 言
Freq.
Word
Meaning

言

words

语言

language

留言

message

而言

with regard to (preceding phrase)

谎言

lie

Component uses

Sound component in 6 characters (3 verified)

這 善 䜌 謠 唁 狺

Iconic component in 2 characters (2 verified)

音 訊