Chinese Conversation · Level 18
90 words
Chinese word
口语
Pronunciation
Pinyinkǒu yǔ
Meaning
- nounspoken language
Example
我们每天都练习口语和听力。wǒ men měi tiān dōu liàn xí kóu yǔ hé tīng lì
We practice speaking and listening every day.
More examples
出国时，口语交流很重要。chū guó shí kóu yǔ jiāo liú hěn zhòng yào
When going abroad, spoken communication is very important.
Core concept
Words carried through the voice in real time, where a speaker and listener respond to each other.
Common phrases
提高口语流利度tí gāo kóu yǔ liú lì dù
improve spoken fluency
参加口语考试cān jiā kóu yǔ kǎo shì
take a speaking exam
日常口语交流rì cháng kóu yǔ jiāo liú
everyday spoken communication
Similar words
说话shuō huà: The act of speaking words aloud to communicate with another person.
会话huì huà: An exchange of words between people about a shared topic or purpose.
对话duì huà: A spoken exchange, usually between two people, that includes questions and answers.
口头语kǒu tóu yǔ: Informal words and expressions commonly used in everyday speech.
Definition in Chinese
口头上使用的语言形式，强调说话与听者间的即时互动，与书面语相对。kǒu tóu shàng shǐ yòng de yǔ yán xíng shì qiáng diào shuō huà yǔ tīng zhě jiān de jí shí hù dòng yǔ shū miàn yǔ xiāng duì
Word origin
The compound 口语 (kǒuyǔ, "spoken language") joins 口 (kǒu, "mouth") with 语 (yǔ, "language"), making the mouth the concrete image of language used aloud.
Usage tips
- Spoken language is not automatically slang in Chinese: a workplace discussion can use 口语 (kǒuyǔ, "spoken language") while remaining polite and formal.
Other meanings
- colloquial languagenoun
Opposites
- 书面语言shū miàn yǔ yánwritten languagenoun
Related words
- 口语能力kóu yǔ néng lìspoken-language abilitynoun
- 口语化kóu yǔ huàmake colloquialverb