# 言

| 言 | U+8A00, &#35328; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8A00 |
| ← 觿 [U+89FF] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 訁 → [U+8A01] |
| ⾔ | U+2F94, &#12180; KANGXI RADICAL SPEECH |
| ← ⾓ [U+2F93] | Kangxi Radicals | ⾕ → [U+2F95] |

## Translingual

| Japanese | 言 |
| Simplified | 言 |
| Traditional | 言 |

### Alternative forms

Note that in Japanese and Korean (printed forms), the 亠 component on top is written 二 (as found in the Kangxi dictionary). In traditional/simplified Chinese and Vietnamese, the top component is written 丶. In written Japanese, the top component may be written either 一, 丶 or 丨 (small vertical stroke).

### Han character

言 (Kangxi radical 149, 言+0, 7 strokes, cangjie input 卜一一口 (YMMR), four-corner 0060$_1$, composition ⿳亠𠄠口(GHTV) or ⿱亖口(JK))
* Kangxi radical #149, ⾔.
* Shuowen Jiezi radical №56

#### Derived characters

* Appendix:Chinese radical/言
* 信, 唁, 娮, 狺, 這, 琂, 䂴, 䩧, 䚯, 䚺, 䚿, 悥, 㝘, 䓂, 䇾, 霅, 㢇, 䴦, 獄, 㯎, 辯, 圁, 燮, 夑, 爕
* 𫭷, 𡥪, 𢚘, 𣵧, 𬯂, 𭪐, 𣨌, 𤉘, 𪺞, 𫀎, 𤯆, 𬚝, 𬜇, 𧠻, 𨡄, 𨦼, 𬩋, 𪘎
* 𫑟, 𠟸, 𬾕, 𣁎, 𦎍, 𨧕, 𥕔, 𡹼, 𤶘, 𧗳, 𠥇, 𠥵, 𣚞, 𤅗

#### See also

* 訁／讠 (yán) (when used as a left Chinese radical).

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 1146, character 1
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 35205
* Dae Jaweon: page 1612, character 20
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 6, page 3936, character 1
* Unihan data for U+8A00

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 言 :
| Shang | Western Zhou | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Oracle bone script | Bronze inscriptions | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
| | Old Chinese |
| 唁 | *ŋrans |
| 這 | *ŋrans |
| 言 | *ŋan |
| 琂 | *ŋan |
| 圁 | *ŋrɯn |
| 誾 | *ŋrɯn |
| 訔 | *ŋrɯn |
| 狺 | *ŋrɯn, *ŋɯn |
Ideogram (指事): 言 was created by adding a horizontal stroke to the top of the ancient version of 舌 to indicate movement of the tongue. This indicates speech, where 舌 is a mouth (口) with a tongue sticking out; hence 舌 doesn't indicate the speech, but the tongue as an organ of the body. In the modern version, another horizontal stroke (then stylized as a point) was added on top and the vertical body of the tongue disappeared. See also 音.
Shuowen erroneously analyzes the glyph as a phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声): phonetic 䇂 (qiān) + semantic 口 (“mouth”).

### Etymology

According to Schuessler (2007: 74) this word is derived from 語 (OC *ŋaʔ, “to speak”) + -n nominal suffix.

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): yán (yan$^2$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄧㄢˊ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): yan$^2$
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): ян (i͡an, II)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): jin$^4$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): ngun$^3$
* Gan (Wiktionary): nyien$^4$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): ngièn / ngiàn
    (Hailu, HRS): ngien
    (Meixian, Guangdong): ngian$^2$
* Jin (Wiktionary): ie$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): ngṳ̂ing
* Eastern Min (BUC): ngiòng
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): ngoeng$^2$ / ngyeng$^2$ / ngyng$^2$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): giân / gân / gên
    (Teochew, Peng'im): ngang$^5$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^6$yi
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): ienn$^2$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: yán
*** Zhuyin: ㄧㄢˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: yán
*** Wade–Giles: yen$^2$
*** Yale: yán
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yan
*** Palladius: янь (janʹ)
*** Sinological IPA : /jɛn³⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: yan$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: ian
*** Sinological IPA : /iɛn²¹/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: ян (i͡an, II)
*** Sinological IPA : /iæ̃⁵¹/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: jin$^4$
*** Yale: yìhn
*** Cantonese Pinyin: jin$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: yin$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /jiːn²¹/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: ngun$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /ᵑɡun²²/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: nyien$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /n̠ʲiɛn³⁵/
* Hakka
** (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ngièn
*** Hakka Romanization System: ngien$^ˇ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: ngian$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /ŋi̯en¹¹/
** (Southern Sixian, incl. Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ngiàn
*** Hakka Romanization System: ngian$^ˇ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: ngian$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /ŋi̯an¹¹/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: ngien
*** Sinological IPA: /ŋien⁵⁵/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: ngian$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /ŋian¹¹/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: ie$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /ie¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: ngṳ̂ing
*** Sinological IPA : /ŋyiŋ³³/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: ngiòng
*** Sinological IPA : /ŋyoŋ⁵³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: ngoeng$^2$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: ngé̤ng
*** Sinological IPA : /ŋœŋ¹³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: ngyeng$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /ŋyøŋ¹³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: ngyng$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /ŋyŋ¹³/
* ngoeng2/ngyeng2 - literary;
* ngyng2 - literary variant.
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit言 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /iɛn³⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /ian²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /ian⁴⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /iã⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /iã⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /ian⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /iã²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /iã²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /ian⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /iɛ̃n⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /ian⁵¹/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /iɛn²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /ian³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /ian²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /iɛ̃³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /ien²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /iĩ⁵⁵/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /ie¹¹/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /ȵie̞¹³/ |
| Jin | Hohhot | /ie³¹/ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /ɦi²³/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /ɦiɪ¹³/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /ɦiẽ̞²¹³/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /ȵi³¹/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /ne⁴⁴/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /ȵiɛ⁴⁴/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /iẽ¹³/ |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /ȵiẽ¹²/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /ȵiɛn⁴⁵/ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /ŋian¹¹/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /ŋien¹¹/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /jin²¹/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /jin²¹/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /jin²¹/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /gian³⁵/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /ŋyoŋ⁵³/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /ŋyiŋ³³/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /ŋaŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Min | Haikou (Hainanese) | /ŋin³¹/ /ŋin²¹³/ 俗 /kɔŋ²¹³/ 訓講 |
* Middle Chinese: ngjon
Rime :
| Character | 言 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 疑 (31) |
| Final (韻) | 元 (65) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 語軒切 |
| Baxter | ngjon |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ŋɨɐn/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ŋiɐn/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ŋiɐn/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ŋɨan/ |
| Li Rong | /ŋiɐn/ |
| Wang Li | /ŋĭɐn/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ŋɨ̯ɐn/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | yán |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | jin$^4$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*ŋa[n]/, /*ŋa[r]/
    (Zhengzhang): /*ŋan/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 言 | 言 | 言 | 言 |
| Reading # | 1/4 | 2/4 | 3/4 | 4/4 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | yán | yán | yán | yán |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ ngjon › | ‹ ngjon › | ‹ ngjon › | ‹ ngjon › |
| Old Chinese | /*ŋa[n]/ | /*ŋa[n]/ | /*ŋa[n]/ | /*ŋa[r]/ |
| English | (a particle) | I, we | speak; speech | tall |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. |||||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 言 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 14271 |
| Phonetic component | 言 |
| Rime group | 元 |
| Rime subdivision | 1 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 言 |
| Old Chinese | /*ŋan/ |

### Definitions

言
* to say; to speak; to talk
    言語／言语 ― yányu ― to speak; to tell
    三思而後言／三思而后言 [Classical Chinese] ― sānsī ér hòu yán [Pinyin] ― Think before you speak.
* to discuss; to comment
* to state; to describe; to explain
* to write down; to record
* to ask; to inquire
* to inform; to tell; to let know
* spoken language; speech
    語言／语言 ― yǔyán ― language
    諾言／诺言 ― nuòyán ― promise
    發言／发言 ― fāyán ― to make a speech
    謠言／谣言 ― yáoyán ― fabricated rumor
    洋洋萬言／洋洋万言 ― yángyángwànyán ― to be very lengthy (of an article, essay)
    我能留個言嗎？／我能留个言吗？ ― Wǒ néng liú ge yán ma? ― Can I leave a message?
* opinion; view; perspective
* words; language appropriate to the occasion
* proposal; idea; plan
* government decree; order
* character; word
* sentence; writing; works
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) A meaningless sentence-initial mood particle.
    From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    zhì bǐ nán shān, yán cǎi qí jué [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this usage example)
* a surname

#### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 言, 云, 曰, 道 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 說, 道 literary |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 說 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 說, 講 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 說, 講 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 說, 講 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tianjin | 說 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 說 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Qingdao | 說, 講 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 說 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan) | 說 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 說 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 說 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 講 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Xiangtan (Jiangnan Industries Group koine) | 講 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Pematangsiantar | 講 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 講 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 講, 話 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 講, 話 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 講, 話 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 講, 話 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 講 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 話 |
| Cantonese | Taishan (Guanghai) | 講 |
| Cantonese | Yunfu | 話 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 講, 話 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 講 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 講 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 講 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 講 |
| Cantonese | Danzhou | 講 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 講, 話 |
| Cantonese | Penang (Guangfu) | 講, 話 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 講, 話 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 講 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 講 |
| Cantonese | Mandalay (Taishan) | 講 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 話 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 講, 話 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Meilin) | 講 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 講 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 講 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 講 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 講 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 講 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 講 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 講 |
| Hakka | Kuching (Hepo) | 講 |
| Hakka | Singapore (Dabu) | 講 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 講 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 說 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 話 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 講 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 講 |
| Eastern Min | Singapore (Fuqing) | 講 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 講 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen (Tong'an) | 講 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 說 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 說 |
| Southern Min | Shishi | 說, 講 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 講 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 呾, 講 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 講 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 講 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 講 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 講 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 講 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 講 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 說, 講 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Raoping | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chenghai) | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chaoyang) | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Lufeng | 講 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 講 |
| Southern Min | Bangkok (Teochew) | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Phnom Penh (Teochew) | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Ho Chi Minh City (Teochew) | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Pontianak (Teochew) | 呾 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 講 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 講 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 講 |
| Southern Min | Qionghai | 講 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hainanese) | 講 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 講 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 講 |
| Southern Pinghua | Binyang | 講, 說 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 講 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 話 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 講, 說 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 說, 話, 講 |
| Wu | Hangzhou (Yuhang) | 講, 話 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 講, 話 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 講 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 講 |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | 講 |
| Xiang | Xiangxiang | 講 |
| Xiang | Xiangxiang (Meiqiao) | 講 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 曰, 講 |

### Compounds

* 一家之言 (yījiāzhīyán)
* 一家言
* 一概而言
* 一般而言 (yībān'éryán)
* 一言 (yīyán)
* 七言 (qīyán)
* 七言八語 / 七言八语
* 七言詩 / 七言诗 (qīyánshī)
* 三復斯言 / 三复斯言
* 下筆千言 / 下笔千言
* 三言二拍
* 三言兩句 / 三言两句
* 三言兩語 / 三言两语 (sānyánliǎngyǔ)
* 不可勝言 / 不可胜言 (bùkěshèngyán)
* 不可言
* 不可言喻 (bùkěyányù)
* 不可言宣
* 不忍言 (bùrěnyán)
* 不知所言
* 不言不語 / 不言不语 (bùyánbùyǔ)
* 不言之教
* 不言而化
* 不言而喻 (bùyán'éryù)
* 中冓之言
* 亂言 / 乱言 (luànyán)
* 五言古詩 / 五言古诗
* 五言詩 / 五言诗 (wǔyánshī)
* 五言長城 / 五言长城
* 交淺言深 / 交浅言深 (jiāoqiǎnyánshēn)
* 人微言輕 / 人微言轻 (rénwēiyánqīng)
* 人言 (rényán)
* 仁言利博
* 以人廢言 / 以人废言 (yǐrénfèiyán)
* 仗義執言 / 仗义执言 (zhàngyìzhíyán)
* 代言 (dàiyán)
* 以言取人
* 位卑言高
* 佞言
* 侈言 (chǐyán)
* 例言 (lìyán)
* 佯言 (yángyán)
* 便言
* 俚言
* 倡言 (chàngyán)
* 倚馬千言 / 倚马千言
* 偏言 (piānyán)
* 偈言
* 側言 / 侧言
* 假言命題 / 假言命题
* 備言 / 备言 (bèiyán)
* 傳言 / 传言 (chuányán)
* 儳言 (chànyán)
* 兩言 / 两言
* 八言詩 / 八言诗
* 六言詩 / 六言诗
* 冷言
* 冷言冷語 / 冷言冷语 (lěngyán lěngyǔ)
* 冷言熱語 / 冷言热语
* 出言 (chūyán)
* 刮言
* 前言 (qiányán)
* 創意造言 / 创意造言
* 劖言訕語 / 劖言讪语
* 千言萬語 / 千言万语 (qiānyánwànyǔ)
* 卮言
* 危言 (wēiyán)
* 去梯言
* 口不擇言 / 口不择言 (kǒubùzéyán)
* 口出穢言 / 口出秽言
* 口無擇言 / 口无择言
* 可言 (kěyán)
* 同日而言
* 名正言順 / 名正言顺 (míngzhèngyánshùn)
* 吉言 (jíyán)
* 名言 (míngyán)
* 同言線 / 同言线 (tóngyánxiàn)
* 哽噎難言 / 哽噎难言
* 喻世明言
* 嘖有煩言 / 啧有烦言
* 嘉言 (jiāyán)
* 嘉言善行
* 嘉言懿行
* 噧言 / 𱒀言
* 四言詩 / 四言诗
* 在商言商
* 在官言官
* 坐言起行
* 坦言 (tǎnyán)
* 多言 (duōyán)
* 大言 (dàyán)
* 大辯不言 / 大辩不言
* 大體而言 / 大体而言
* 失言 (shīyán)
* 好言 (hǎoyán)
* 妄言 (wàngyán)
* 奸言
* 妙不可言
* 妖言 (yāoyán)
* 妙言要道
* 姑妄言之
* 婦言 / 妇言
* 婉言 (wǎnyán)
* 媒妁之言
* 宣言 (xuānyán)
* 寓言 (yùyán)
* 寡言 (guǎyán)
* 察言觀色 / 察言观色 (cháyánguānsè)
* 導言 / 导言 (dǎoyán)
* 小小不言
* 小言
* 巧言 (qiǎoyán)
* 巧語花言 / 巧语花言
* 巽言
* 常言 (chángyán)
* 幣厚言甘 / 币厚言甘
* 幣重言甘 / 币重言甘
* 序言 (xùyán)
* 庸言
* 廣開言路 / 广开言路 (guǎngkāiyánlù)
* 建言 (jiànyán)
* 弁言 (biànyán)
* 引言 (yǐnyán)
* 後言 / 后言
* 徒託空言 / 徒托空言
* 得意忘言
* 微言 (wēiyán)
* 德容言功
* 德言容功
* 德言工貌
* 徽言
* 忘言
* 忿言
* 忠言 (zhōngyán)
* 忠言嘉謨 / 忠言嘉谟
* 忠言奇謀 / 忠言奇谋
* 忠言讜論 / 忠言谠论
* 忠言逆耳 (zhōngyánnì'ěr)
* 急不擇言 / 急不择言
* 怨而不言
* 怨言 (yuànyán)
* 急言
* 恆言 / 恒言 (héngyán)
* 情在言外
* 情見乎言 / 情见乎言
* 惡言 / 恶言 (èyán)
* 意切言盡 / 意切言尽
* 感言 (gǎnyán)
* 慎言
* 懇言 / 恳言
* 懿言
* 成一家言
* 成言
* 戲言 / 戏言 (xìyán)
* 把手言歡 / 把手言欢
* 捫蝨而言 / 扪虱而言
* 握手言歡 / 握手言欢
* 揚言 / 扬言 (yángyán)
* 換言之 / 换言之 (huànyánzhī)
* 摭言
* 攙言接語 / 搀言接语
* 放言
* 放言高論 / 放言高论
* 敘言 / 叙言 (xùyán)
* 敢言
* 文言 (wényán)
* 文言文 (wényánwén)
* 斷言 / 断言 (duànyán)
* 方言 (fāngyán)
* 日試萬言 / 日试万言
* 明言 (míngyán)
* 昌言 (chāngyán)
* 星言夙駕 / 星言夙驾
* 晤言
* 智小言大
* 暢所欲言 / 畅所欲言 (chàngsuǒyùyán)
* 書不盡言 / 书不尽言
* 有口難言 / 有口难言 (yǒukǒunányán)
* 有苦難言 / 有苦难言
* 有言在先 (yǒuyán zàixiān)
* 杜口絕言 / 杜口绝言
* 果如其言
* 果如是言
* 格言 (géyán)
* 梵言 (fànyán)
* 棄言 / 弃言
* 樂不可言 / 乐不可言
* 欲言又止 (yùyányòuzhǐ)
* 款語溫言 / 款语温言
* 正言
* 毀言 / 毁言
* 氣盛言宜 / 气盛言宜
* 沉重少言
* 沉靜少言 / 沉静少言
* 治家格言
* 法言
* 流言 (liúyán)
* 海口浪言
* 海岳名言
* 浮言 (fúyán)
* 浪言
* 涎言涎語 / 涎言涎语
* 清言
* 深言
* 游言
* 渾言 / 浑言
* 溢於言表 / 溢于言表 (yìyúyánbiǎo)
* 潔言汙行 / 洁言污行
* 無庸贅言 / 无庸赘言
* 無稽之言 / 无稽之言
* 無言 / 无言 (wúyán)
* 煩言 / 烦言 (fányán)
* 片言 (piànyán)
* 片面之言
* 犯言
* 狂言 (kuángyán)
* 甘言 (gānyán)
* 甜言 (tiányán)
* 甜語花言 / 甜语花言
* 由中之言
* 由衷之言
* 留言 (liúyán)
* 異言 / 异言 (yìyán)
* 疾言厲色 / 疾言厉色 (jíyánlìsè)
* 疾言遽色
* 發言 / 发言 (fāyán)
* 百家之言
* 盡言 / 尽言
* 直言 (zhíyán)
* 相機而言 / 相机而言
* 真言 (zhēnyán)
* 眷言
* 瞽言妄舉 / 瞽言妄举
* 瞽言芻議 / 瞽言刍议
* 矢言 (shǐyán)
* 知無不言 / 知无不言 (zhīwúbùyán)
* 知而不言
* 知言 (zhīyán)
* 矯言偽行 / 矫言伪行
* 碩言 / 硕言
* 社會方言 / 社会方言 (shèhuì fāngyán)
* 禽言
* 萬言書 / 万言书
* 萬語千言 / 万语千言
* 私言
* 穢言 / 秽言 (huìyán)
* 穢語汙言 / 秽语污言
* 空言 (kōngyán)
* 窕言
* 立掃千言 / 立扫千言
* 立言
* 立言豎辭 / 立言竖辞
* 童言無忌 / 童言无忌 (tóngyánwújì)
* 竫言
* 箴言 (zhēnyán)
* 粗言
* 約言 / 约言
* 納言 / 纳言 (nàyán)
* 結言 / 结言
* 緒言 / 绪言 (xùyán)
* 緘口不言 / 缄口不言
* 總而言之 / 总而言之 (zǒng'éryánzhī)
* 縱言 / 纵言
* 繁言吝嗇 / 繁言吝啬
* 繩墨之言 / 绳墨之言
* 罕言寡語 / 罕言寡语
* 美言 (měiyán)
* 耳食之言
* 聲言 / 声言 (shēngyán)
* 肆言無忌 / 肆言无忌
* 肆言詈辱
* 肺腑之言 (fèifǔzhīyán)
* 胡言 (húyán)
* 胡言亂語 / 胡言乱语 (húyánluànyǔ)
* 胡言漢語 / 胡言汉语 (húyánhànyǔ)
* 能言 (néngyán)
* 能言鳥 / 能言鸟 (néngyánniǎo)
* 自不待言 (zìbùdàiyán)
* 自言自語 / 自言自语 (zìyánzìyǔ)
* 至言 (zhìyán)
* 舉言 / 举言
* 良言 (liángyán)
* 芻言 / 刍言
* 花言巧語 / 花言巧语 (huāyánqiǎoyǔ)
* 苦不堪言 (kǔbùkānyán)
* 苟言
* 苦言
* 荒唐之言
* 莠言
* 薄脣輕言 / 薄唇轻言
* 藥石之言 / 药石之言
* 藥言 / 药言
* 蘭言 / 兰言
* 虛言 / 虚言 (xūyán)
* 行不及言
* 行不顧言 / 行不顾言
* 行濁言清 / 行浊言清
* 裡言 / 里言
* 要而言之
* 要言
* 規言矩步 / 规言矩步
* 言下之意 (yánxiàzhīyì)
* 言三語四 / 言三语四
* 言不及私
* 言不及義 / 言不及义 (yánbùjíyì)
* 言不應點 / 言不应点
* 言不由中
* 言不由衷 (yánbùyóuzhōng)
* 言不盡意 / 言不尽意 (yán bù jìn yì)
* 言不詭隨 / 言不诡随
* 言不諳典 / 言不谙典
* 言不踐行 / 言不践行
* 言不逮意
* 言不顧行 / 言不顾行
* 言之不渝
* 言之不盡 / 言之不尽
* 言之不預 / 言之不预
* 言之成理 (yánzhīchénglǐ)
* 言之有物
* 言之有理 (yánzhīyǒulǐ)
* 言之無物 / 言之无物 (yánzhīwúwù)
* 言之過早 / 言之过早 (yánzhīguòzǎo)
* 言之過甚 / 言之过甚
* 言之鑿鑿 / 言之凿凿 (yánzhīzáozáo)
* 言事若神
* 言人人殊 (yánrénrénshū)
* 言來語去 / 言来语去
* 言傳 / 言传 (yánchuán)
* 言兒語子 / 言儿语子
* 言出如山
* 言出必行 (yánchūbìxíng)
* 言出患入
* 言出法隨 / 言出法随 (yánchūfǎsuí)
* 言十妄九
* 言和 (yánhé)
* 言和意順 / 言和意顺
* 言外 (yánwài)
* 言多傷行 / 言多伤行
* 言多失實 / 言多失实
* 言多必失 (yánduōbìshī)
* 言多語失 / 言多语失
* 言大而夸
* 言字旁 (yánzìpáng)
* 言官
* 言容 (yánróng)
* 言對 / 言对
* 言差語錯 / 言差语错
* 言從計納 / 言从计纳
* 言從計行 / 言从计行
* 言微旨遠 / 言微旨远
* 言必有中 (yánbìyǒuzhòng)
* 言必有據 / 言必有据
* 言情 (yánqíng)
* 言揚行舉 / 言扬行举
* 言教 (yánjiào)
* 言旁
* 言明 (yánmíng)
* 言歸于好
* 言歸和好 / 言归和好
* 言歸於好 / 言归于好 (yánguīyúhǎo)
* 言歸正傳 / 言归正传 (yánguīzhèngzhuàn)
* 言泉 (yánquán)
* 言淺意深 / 言浅意深
* 言清行濁 / 言清行浊
* 言為心聲 / 言为心声 (yánwéixīnshēng)
* 言無不盡 / 言无不尽
* 言無二價 / 言无二价
* 言狀 / 言状
* 言狂意妄
* 言猶在耳 / 言犹在耳 (yányóuzài'ěr)
* 言真道假
* 言笑 (yánxiào)
* 言筌
* 言簡意賅 / 言简意赅 (yánjiǎnyìgāi)
* 言絕 / 言绝
* 言而不信 (yán'érbùxìn)
* 言而有信
* 言而無信 / 言而无信 (yán'érwúxìn)
* 言聽行從 / 言听行从
* 言聽計從 / 言听计从 (yántīngjìcóng)
* 言聽計用 / 言听计用
* 言聽計行 / 言听计行
* 言若懸河 / 言若悬河
* 言行
* 言言
* 言詞 / 言词 (yáncí)
* 言誓
* 言說 / 言说 (yánshuō)
* 言語 / 言语
* 言談 / 言谈 (yántán)
* 言論 / 言论 (yánlùn)
* 言責 / 言责
* 言路 (yánlù)
* 言身寸
* 言辭 / 言辞 (yáncí)
* 言近指遠 / 言近指远
* 言近旨遠 / 言近旨远
* 言過其實 / 言过其实 (yánguòqíshí)
* 言重 (yánzhòng)
* 言靈 / 言灵
* 言類懸河 / 言类悬河
* 言顛語倒 / 言颠语倒
* 言高語低 / 言高语低
* 託言 / 托言 (tuōyán)
* 訟言 / 讼言
* 訛言 / 讹言 (éyán)
* 設言托意 / 设言托意
* 詢事考言 / 询事考言
* 詩以言志 / 诗以言志
* 誆言詐語 / 诓言诈语
* 語四言三 / 语四言三
* 誓言 (shìyán)
* 誑言 / 诳言 (kuángyán)
* 語言 / 语言
* 誦言 / 诵言
* 諍言 / 诤言 (zhèngyán)
* 誹言 / 诽言
* 談言微中 / 谈言微中
* 課語訛言 / 课语讹言
* 諫言 / 谏言 (jiànyán)
* 諾言 / 诺言 (nuòyán)
* 諛言 / 谀言 (yúyán)
* 諺言 / 谚言
* 諱言 / 讳言 (huìyán)
* 謊言 / 谎言 (huǎngyán)
* 謠言 / 谣言 (yáoyán)
* 謎言謎語 / 谜言谜语
* 謹言 / 谨言
* 謬言 / 谬言
* 證言 / 证言 (zhèngyán)
* 譖言 / 谮言
* 警世通言
* 譫言 / 谵言
* 讆言 / 𬣀言
* 讕言 / 谰言 (lányán)
* 讒言 / 谗言 (chányán)
* 讜言 / 谠言
* 豪言壯語 / 豪言壮语 (háoyánzhuàngyǔ)
* 貌言
* 貴不可言 / 贵不可言 (guì bùkě yán)
* 貳言 / 贰言 (èryán)
* 質言 / 质言 (zhìyán)
* 贅言 / 赘言 (zhuìyán)
* 贈言 / 赠言 (zèngyán)
* 踐言 / 践言 (jiànyán)
* 踰言 / 逾言
* 身輕言微 / 身轻言微 (shēnqīngyánwēi)
* 載笑載言 / 载笑载言
* 輕言 / 轻言
* 辟言
* 迂言
* 退有後言 / 退有后言
* 逆耳之言
* 迷言迷語 / 迷言迷语
* 造言惑眾 / 造言惑众
* 造言生事
* 進言 / 进言 (jìnyán)
* 違心之言 / 违心之言
* 違言 / 违言
* 過言 / 过言 (guòyán)
* 遺言 / 遗言 (yíyán)
* 還言 / 还言
* 邇言 / 迩言
* 鄙言
* 醒世恆言 / 醒世恒言 (Xǐngshì Héngyán)
* 釋言 / 释言
* 重言
* 野叟曝言
* 金口玉言
* 金玉之言
* 金石之言
* 金言 (jīnyán)
* 閒言 / 闲言
* 開言 / 开言 (kāiyán)
* 附耳低言
* 陳言 / 陈言 (chényán)
* 陳言務去 / 陈言务去
* 隻字片言 / 只字片言
* 隻言片語 / 只言片语 (zhīyánpiànyǔ)
* 雅俗稽言
* 雅言 (yǎyán)
* 雜言 / 杂言
* 難以言喻 / 难以言喻 (nányǐyányù)
* 難言之隱 / 难言之隐 (nányánzhīyǐn)
* 難說難言 / 难说难言
* 靜言 / 静言
* 非言
* 預言 / 预言 (yùyán)
* 顧左右而言他 / 顾左右而言他 (gù zuǒyòu ér yán tā)
* 風聞言事 / 风闻言事
* 風裡言 / 风里言
* 風言 / 风言
* 食言 (shíyán)
* 食言而肥 (shíyán'érféi)
* 高言

### References

* ↑ <言> at the Glyph Database from the Institute of History and Language of the Academia Sinica and the Institute of Information Science

### Further reading

* “言”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)
* to say
* speech

#### Readings

* Go-on: ごん (gon, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: げん (gen, Jōyō)
* Kun: こと (koto, 言, Jōyō)、いう (iu, 言う, Jōyō)、ことば (kotoba, 言)

#### Compounds

* 箴(しん)言(げん) (shingen, “proverb”), 箴(しん)言(げん) (Shingen, “Proverbs”)
* 諛(ゆ)言(げん) (yugen, “flattering words”)
* 悪(あっ)口(こう)雑(ぞう)言(ごん) (akkōzōgon)
* 伝(でん)言(ごん) (dengon)
* 言(げん)語(ご) (gengo)
* 言(ごん)上(じょう) (gonjō)
* 方(ほう)言(げん) (hōgen)
* 暴(ぼう)言(げん) (bōgen)
* 無(む)言(ごん) (mugon), 無(む)言(げん) (mugen)
* 遺(ゆい)言(ごん) (yuigon), 遺(い)言(ごん) (igon)
* 明(めい)言(げん) (meigen)
* 宣(せん)言(げん) (sengen)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 言
* げん Grade: 2
* kan'on
From Middle Chinese 言 (MC ngjon, “speech”).

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) げん [géꜜǹ] (Atamadaka –)
* IPA: [ɡẽ̞ɴ]

#### Noun

言(げん) • (gen)
* word
* (linguistics) parole

##### Synonyms

* (parole): パロール (parōru)

##### Antonyms

* (antonym(s) of “parole”): 言(げん)語(ご) (gengo)

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 言
* こと Grade: 2
* kun'yomi
Cognate with 事 (koto, “thing”).

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) こと [kòtóꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
* IPA: [ko̞to̞]

#### Noun

言(こと) • (koto)
* word

### References

* 1 2 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
* ↑ Yamada, Tadao et al., editors (2011), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Seventh edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN

## Korean
### Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 言 (MC ngjon).
* Recorded as Middle Korean ᅌᅥᆫ (Yale: ngen) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
* Recorded as Middle Korean 언 (en) (Yale: en) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ʌ̹n]
* Phonetic hangul: [언]

#### Hanja

Wikisource 言 (eumhun 말씀 언 (malsseum eon))
* hanja form of 언 (“word”)
* hanja form of 언 (“speech”)

#### Compounds

* 가언 (嘉言, ga'eon)
* 가언판단 (假言判斷, ga'eonpandan)
* 간언 (諫言, ganeon)
* 격언 (格言, gyeogeon)
* 고언 (苦言, go'eon)
* 공언 (公言, gong'eon)
* 눌언 (訥言, nureon)
* 단언 (端言, daneon)
* 대언 (對言, daeeon)
* 망언 (妄言, mang'eon)
* 명언 (名言, myeong'eon)
* 발언 (發言, bareon)
* 방언 (方言, bang'eon)
* 부언 (浮言, bueon)
* 선언 (宣言, seoneon)
* 언급 (言及, eon'geup)
* 언동 (言動, eondong)
* 언론 (言論, eollon)
* 언변 (言辯, eonbyeon)
* 언사 (言辭, eonsa)
* 언설 (言舌, eonseol)
* 언약 (言約, eonyak)
* 언어 (言語, eoneo)
* 언쟁 (言爭, eonjaeng)
* 언중 (言衆, eonjung)
* 언필칭 (言必稱, eonpilching)
* 언행 (言行, eonhaeng)
* 예언 (豫言, yeeon)
* 오언 (五言, o'eon)
* 유언 (遺言, yueon)
* 이언 (俚言, ieon)
* 잠언 (箴言, jameon)
* 전언 (傳言, jeoneon)
* 정언 (正言, jeong'eon)
* 제언 (提言, jeeon)
* 조언 (助言, jo'eon)
* 좌언 (左言, jwa'eon)
* 증언 (證言, jeung'eon)
* 진언 (眞言, jineon)
* 창언 (昌言, chang'eon)
* 폭언 (暴言, pogeon)
* 허언 (虛言, heo'eon)
* 호언 (豪言, ho'eon)
* 확언 (確言, hwageon)

### Etymology 2

Related to Middle Chinese 誾 (MC ngin).

#### Hanja

言 (eumhun 심사화평할 은 (simsahwapyeonghal eun))
* (literary Chinese) hanja form of 은 (“peaceful demeanor”)

#### Compounds

* 은은 (言言, euneun)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Okinawan
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)
* to say
* speech

#### Readings

* Kun: くとぅ (kutu, 言)、っゆん ('yun, 言ん)、いゅん (yyun, 言ん)

#### Compounds

* 言葉(くとぅば) (kutuba, “word”)

### Noun

言(くとぅ) (kutu)
* word

## Vietnamese
### Han character

言: Hán Nôm readings: ngôn, ngỏn, ngộn, ngổn, ngồn, ngủn
* speech
* word
* to speak
* to tell

#### Compounds

* 名正言順 (danh chính ngôn thuận)
* 名言 (danh ngôn)
* 君子一言 (quân tử nhất ngôn)
* 宣言 (tuyên ngôn)
* 寓言 (ngụ ngôn)
* 文言 (văn ngôn)
* 格言 (cách ngôn)
* 發言 (phát ngôn)
* 箴言 (châm ngôn)
* 言詞 (ngôn từ)
* 言語 (ngôn ngữ)
* 言論 (ngôn luận)