Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites

Five Elements Test Chinese-Idioms.com

About•Privacy Policy•Terms of Service

DICTIONARY

Chinese Dictionary
Pinyin Index
Radical Index
Character Components
HSK Dictionary
Character Compare

DICTIONARY

Chinese Dictionary
Pinyin Index
Radical Index
Character Components
HSK Dictionary
Character Compare

TOOLS

Worksheet Generator
Worksheet Library
Writing Practice
Pinyin Converter
Chinese Name Generator
Zodiac Calculator
HSK Level Checker
Flashcards
Dictation Practice

TOOLS

Worksheet Generator
Worksheet Library
Writing Practice
Pinyin Converter
Chinese Name Generator
Zodiac Calculator
HSK Level Checker
Flashcards
Dictation Practice

LEARN

Learning Center
Blog
Chinese Stroke Rules
Chinese Poetry
Pro Membership ✨

LEARN

Learning Center
Blog
Chinese Stroke Rules
Chinese Poetry
Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.

言 (yán): Stroke Order, Meaning & How to Write

By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z

HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview

HSK 2.0

Learn & Practice

Worksheet Generator

Learning Essentials

Home
Dictionary
言

言 (yán): To speak — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

HSK 3.0:Recognition 3Writing 3

HSK 3.0

By PinyinSearch by pronunciation

By RadicalFind by radical component

By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

HSK 3.0

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7-9

Create practice sheets for free

Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs

Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words

Dictation PracticeListen and write HSK characters

Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks

HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text

Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin

My Learning

Learning DashboardTrack your writing progress

My VocabularyReview saved words and lists

Fun & Culture

Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name

8 Basic Strokes GuideHot

Foundation of all characters

Pinyin Tones Guide

4 tones with audio examples

Chinese Handwriting Guide

Daily practice routine

HSK 3.0 Complete GuideNew

New exam format explained

HSK 1 Common Mistakes

Avoid beginner errors

Topics & Culture

Chinese Numbers 1-1000

Count like a native

Time & Dates Guide

Tell time in Chinese

Family Members Guide

30+ family terms

2026 Fire Horse YearHot

Zodiac meaning & luck

Top 100 Characters

Most frequent, free PDF

View All Blog Posts

1.

Animated Stroke Order 言

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 言 — animated stroke order

278 learners practiced this

2.

Stroke Order Diagrams 言

言 stroke order diagram

3.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 言

言 handwriting practice worksheet preview

4.

How to Use 言

Compound nouns with 言 as 'words/language'

言 functions as a noun root meaning 'words, speech, language' in these compound nouns.

语言 • yǔ yán • language • HSK 4

HSK 4

5.

HSK Vocabulary: 言

发言 • fā yán • speak; make a statement; take the floor

HSK 5

fā发

yán

6.

Example Sentences

tā他

wèi为

zhè这

ge个

pǐn品

pái牌

dài

Information

Pinyinyán

Meaningto speak; to say; word; speech

Strokes7

Radical言

Traditional言

StructureSingle Body

Frequency#610

Zhuyinㄧㄢˊ

UnicodeU+8A00

CangjieYMMR

Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal

yǔ语

yán言

language

方言 • fāng yán • dialect • HSK 6

HSK 6

fāng方

yán言

dialect

言论 • yán lùn • opinion on public affairs; expression of one's political views • HSK 6

HSK 6

yán言

lùn论

opinion on public affairs; expression of one's political views

Idiomatic expressions where 言 means 'to say'

言 means 'to say' in these fixed phrases, often used in formal or literary contexts.

不言而喻 • bù yán ér yù • it is self-evident; it goes without saying; it stands to reason that • HSK 6

HSK 6

bù不

yán言

ér而

yù喻

it is self-evident; it goes without saying; it stands to reason that

总而言之 • zǒng ér yán zhī • to make a long story short; all in all; generally speaking • HSK 6

HSK 6

zǒng总

ér而

yán言

言

speak; make a statement; take the floor

留言 • liú yán • to leave a message

HSK 3.0 · L5

liú留

yán言

to leave a message

寓言 • yù yán • fable; allegory; parable

HSK 6

yù寓

yán言

fable; allegory; parable

序言 • xù yán • introduction; preface; foreword

HSK 6

xù序

yán言

introduction; preface; foreword

言语 • yán yǔ • words

HSK 3.0 · L6

yán言

yǔ语

words

谣言 • yáo yán • rumour; groundless allegation

HSK 6

yáo谣

yán言

rumour; groundless allegation

代

yán言

。

He endorses this brand.

tā他

zài在

huì会

yì议

shàng上

fā发

yán言

hěn很

jīng精

cǎi彩

。

His speech at the meeting was very brilliant.

tā他

de的

yán言

lùn论

hěn很

hǎo好

。

His speech is very good.

xué学

xí习

yì一

mén门

xīn新

yǔ语

yán言

hěn很

yǒu有

qù趣

。

Learning a new language is very interesting.

qǐng请

gěi给

wǒ我

liú留

yán言

，

wǒ我

huì会

huí回

fù复

nǐ你

。

Please leave me a message, and I will reply to you.

zhī之

to make a long story short; all in all; generally speaking

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "yan".

彦yànelegant
奄yǎnere long; remain, tarry; feeble
阉yāncastrate; eunuch
焉yānthereupon, then; how? why? where?
赝yànfalse; counterfeit; bogus; sham
魇yǎnnightmare, bad dreams

View all "yan" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "言".

詹zhānsurname; talk too much, verbose
誊téngcopy, transcribe
誓shìto swear; to vow; an oath
誉yùpraise, reputation, fame
警jǐngto warn, alert, or be vigilant
譬pìto give an example; to compare

View all "言" radical characters →