yán
Radical no. 1497 strokes

The radical

Speech, words

Variants:

Memory hook

A mouth giving off sound

The radical (read yán) means speech, words. The HSK 3.0 data contains 74 characters and 558 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.

Practise the 言 radical

Study this radical's 558 words with flashcards or a quiz.

The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium

Characters with the 言 radical

74 characters

The free plan shows 9 characters per HSK level (53/74 characters of this radical).

HSK 1· 9 characters

HSK 1

rèn

to recognize, to acknowledge

to remember; to memorize

shí

to know, to recognize

to complain, to sue

shì

to try, to test

huà

words; speech

language

shuō

to say, to speak

qǐng

please

HSK 2· 9 characters

HSK 2

yán

words; speech

to count; to calculate

tǎo

to demand; to ask for

ràng

to let; to allow; to yield

jiǎng

to speak; to tell

to allow; to permit

lùn

to discuss; to debate

word

gāi

should; ought to; must

HSK 3· 9 characters

HSK 3

jǐng

to warn, be vigilant

dìng

to order; to subscribe; to book

xùn

to train, instruct

to discuss, deliberate

shè

to establish, set up

访

fǎng

to visit, call on

zhèng

to prove; to demonstrate

píng

to critique, to comment on

to mistake; mistaken; error

HSK 4· 4 characters

HSK 4

to translate, to interpret

shī

poem, poetry

chéng

honest

wèi

to be called, to be named

HSK 5· 4 characters

HSK 5

zhěn

medical examination

xún

to ask

xiáng

detailed, meticulous

affection, kindness

HSK 6· 9 characters

HSK 6

reputation; prestige

xùn

news; information

dàn

birth, birthday

zhū

various; all

nuò

promise; commitment

liàng

to forgive, to be understanding

móu

scheme; plot; plan

xié

harmonious; in harmony

qiān

humble; modest

HSK 7-9· 9 characters

HSK 7-9

shì

oath, vow

example

to mock, to ridicule

huì

to be taboo, to avoid mentioning

surprised

é

mistaken; erroneous

sòng

to litigate, to bring a lawsuit

fěng

to satirize, to mock

jué

knack, method

Vocabulary with the 言 radical

558 words

Words containing at least one character with the 言 radical, ordered by HSK level.

The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (63/558 words of this radical).

上课
shàng

to go to class, to attend class

下课
xià

to finish class, to get out of class

告诉
gàosu

to tell (someone)

外语
wài

foreign language

忘记
wàng

to forget

打电话
diànhuà

to make a phone call

汉语
hàn

Chinese (language)

电话
diànhuà

telephone

知识
zhīshi

knowledge

也许

perhaps; maybe

听讲
tīngjiǎng

to listen to a lecture

听说
tīngshuō

to hear of; to hear that

对话
duìhuà

dialogue; conversation

小说
xiǎoshuō

novel

应该
yīnggāi

should; ought to

感谢
gǎnxiè

to thank; gratitude

普通话
tōnghuà

Mandarin; standard spoken Chinese

比如说
shuō

for example; for instance

不论
lùn

no matter; regardless of

交警
jiāojǐng

traffic police

会议
huì

meeting; conference

传说
chuánshuō

legend; folklore

保证
bǎozhèng

to guarantee; to assure

功课
gōng

schoolwork; homework; lessons

发言
yán

to speak (at a meeting); a statement

否认
fǒurèn

to deny; denial

建议
jiàn

suggestion; advice

一般来说
bānláishuō

generally, usually

争论
zhēnglùn

to argue, to debate

会计
kuài

accounting

制订
zhìdìng

to formulate, to draw up

单调
dāndiào

monotonous, boring

口语
kǒu

spoken language, oral speech

培训
péixùn

to train

培训班
péixùnbān

training class, training course

常识
chángshí

common knowledge, general knowledge

一句话
huà

in a word, simply put

不许

not allow

争议
zhēng

controversy

会谈
huìtán

talks

估计

to assess, to estimate

公认
gōngrèn

recognized, acknowledged

共计
gòng

in total, adding up to

华语
huá

Chinese language (term for Chinese, common in Southeast Asia)

协议
xié

agreement

传言
chuányán

rumor, hearsay

允许
yǔn

to allow, to permit

再说
zàishuō

besides, moreover

出访
chūfǎng

to go on an official visit, to make a state visit

协调
xiétiáo

to coordinate; to harmonize

原谅
yuánliàng

to forgive, to pardon

发言人
yánrén

spokesperson

口试
kǒushì

oral exam, oral interview

名誉
míng

honor, reputation

一概而论
gàiérlùn

to generalize mechanically

一言一行
yánxíng

every word and every deed

一言不发
yán

not to say a word

上诉
shàng

to appeal (a court decision)

上调
shàngtiáo

to adjust upward (salary, price, rate, etc.)

下意识
xiàshí

subconscious

下调
xiàtiáo

to lower, to reduce

不像话
xiànghuà

outrageous, unreasonable

不可思议

inconceivable, extraordinary

Why learn vocabulary by the 言 radical?

The 言 radical hints at the meaning speech, words. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.

How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 74 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 558 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.

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