HSK · Level 23
135 words
Chinese word
华语
Pronunciation
Pinyinhuá yǔ
Meaning
- nounMandarin
Example
在新加坡，很多人说华语。zài xīn jiā pō hěn duō rén shuō huá yǔ
In Singapore, many people speak Mandarin.
More examples
在国际会议上，他用华语做了演讲。zài guó jì huì yì shàng tā yòng huá yǔ zuò le yán jiǎng
At the international conference, he gave a speech in Mandarin.
Core concept
A community language label that centers on Mandarin and links it with Chinese identity in places such as Singapore and Malaysia.
Common phrases
说华语shuō huá yǔ
speak Mandarin
用华语交流yòng huá yǔ jiāo liú
communicate in Mandarin
华语水平huá yǔ shuǐ píng
Mandarin proficiency
Similar words
普通话pǔ tōng huà: The official standard spoken form of Chinese, based on Beijing pronunciation.
汉语hàn yǔ: The Chinese language considered as a whole.
中文zhōng wén: A general term for Chinese in both written and spoken form.
国语guó yǔ: The official name for Chinese used in places such as Taiwan.
Definition in Chinese
华语是华人社群用来表示族群语言身份的汉语称谓，通常以普通话为准并在新加坡、马来西亚等地广泛使用。huá yǔ shì huá rén shè qún yòng lái biǎo shì zú qún yǔ yán shēn fèn de hàn yǔ chēng wèi tōng cháng yǐ pǔ tōng huà wèi zhǔn bìng zài xīn jiā pō mǎ lái xī yà děng dì guǎng fàn shǐ yòng
Word origin
华 (huá, "Chinese identity") + 语 (yǔ, "language") forms a compound meaning the language associated with Chinese communities.
Usage tips
- In everyday use, this regional label usually points to Mandarin, but local pronunciation and vocabulary may differ from forms heard in mainland China.
Other meanings
- Chinesenoun
Opposites
- 外语wài yǔforeign languagenoun
Related words
- 华语水平huá yǔ shuǐ píngMandarin proficiencynoun
- 华语教师huá yǔ jiào shīMandarin teachernoun