Promotion

言

yán
Radical no. 1497 strokes

The 言 radical

Speech, words

Variants: 讠 訁

Memory hook

A mouth giving off sound

The 言 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

认

rèn

to recognize, to acknowledge

记

jì

to remember; to memorize

识

shí

to know, to recognize

诉

sù

to complain, to sue

试

shì

to try, to test

话

huà

words; speech

语

yǔ

language

说

shuō

to say, to speak

请

qǐng

please

HSK 2· 9 characters

HSK 2

言

yán

words; speech

计

jì

to count; to calculate

讨

tǎo

to demand; to ask for

让

ràng

to let; to allow; to yield

讲

jiǎng

to speak; to tell

许

xǔ

to allow; to permit

论

lùn

to discuss; to debate

词

cí

word

该

gāi

should; ought to; must

HSK 3· 9 characters

HSK 3

警

jǐng

to warn, be vigilant

订

dìng

to order; to subscribe; to book

训

xùn

to train, instruct

议

yì

to discuss, deliberate

设

shè

to establish, set up

访

fǎng

to visit, call on

证

zhèng

to prove; to demonstrate

评

píng

to critique, to comment on

误

wù

to mistake; mistaken; error

HSK 4· 4 characters

HSK 4

译

yì

to translate, to interpret

诗

shī

poem, poetry

诚

chéng

honest

谓

wèi

to be called, to be named

HSK 5· 4 characters

HSK 5

诊

zhěn

medical examination

询

xún

to ask

详

xiáng

detailed, meticulous

谊

yì

affection, kindness

HSK 6· 9 characters

HSK 6

誉

yù

reputation; prestige

讯

xùn

news; information

诞

dàn

birth, birthday

诸

zhū

various; all

诺

nuò

promise; commitment

谅

liàng

to forgive, to be understanding

谋

móu

scheme; plot; plan

谐

xié

harmonious; in harmony

谦

qiān

humble; modest

HSK 7-9· 9 characters

HSK 7-9

誓

shì

oath, vow

譬

pì

example

讥

jī

to mock, to ridicule

讳

huì

to be taboo, to avoid mentioning

讶

yà

surprised

讹

é

mistaken; erroneous

讼

sòng

to litigate, to bring a lawsuit

讽

fěng

to satirize, to mock

诀

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
shàngkè

to go to class, to attend class

下课
xiàkè

to finish class, to get out of class

告诉
gàosu

to tell (someone)

外语
wàiyǔ

foreign language

忘记
wàngjì

to forget

打电话
dǎdiànhuà

to make a phone call

汉语
hànyǔ

Chinese (language)

电话
diànhuà

telephone

知识
zhīshi

knowledge

也许
yěxǔ

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
pǔtōnghuà

Mandarin; standard spoken Chinese

比如说
bǐrúshuō

for example; for instance

不论
búlùn

no matter; regardless of

交警
jiāojǐng

traffic police

会议
huìyì

meeting; conference

传说
chuánshuō

legend; folklore

保证
bǎozhèng

to guarantee; to assure

功课
gōngkè

schoolwork; homework; lessons

发言
fāyán

to speak (at a meeting); a statement

否认
fǒurèn

to deny; denial

建议
jiànyì

suggestion; advice

一般来说
yìbānláishuō

generally, usually

争论
zhēnglùn

to argue, to debate

会计
kuàijì

accounting

制订
zhìdìng

to formulate, to draw up

单调
dāndiào

monotonous, boring

口语
kǒuyǔ

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
yíjùhuà

in a word, simply put

不许
bùxǔ

not allow

争议
zhēngyì

controversy

会谈
huìtán

talks

估计
gūjì

to assess, to estimate

公认
gōngrèn

recognized, acknowledged

共计
gòngjì

in total, adding up to

华语
huáyǔ

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

协议
xiéyì

agreement

传言
chuányán

rumor, hearsay

允许
yǔnxǔ

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
fāyánrén

spokesperson

口试
kǒushì

oral exam, oral interview

名誉
míngyù

honor, reputation

一概而论
yígàiérlùn

to generalize mechanically

一言一行
yìyányìxíng

every word and every deed

一言不发
yìyánbùfā

not to say a word

上诉
shàngsù

to appeal (a court decision)

上调
shàngtiáo

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

下意识
xiàyìshí

subconscious

下调
xiàtiáo

to lower, to reduce

不像话
búxiànghuà

outrageous, unreasonable

不可思议
bùkěsīyì

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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