Chinese word

德语

Pronunciation

Pinyindé yǔ

Meaning

  • nounGerman

Example

你想学德语吗？nǐ xiǎng xué dé yǔ ma

Do you want to learn German?

Illustration for 德语 (German)

More examples

我在上德语课。wǒ zài shàng dé yǔ kè

I am taking a German class.

Core concept

A language shared across the German-speaking parts of central Europe.

Common phrases

  • 学习德语xué xí dé yǔ

    learn German

  • 会说德语huì shuō dé yǔ

    speak German

  • 德语课dé yǔ kè

    German class

Similar words

德文dé wén: Written German used in books, documents, and other texts.

Definition in Chinese

指在德国、奥地利、瑞士等德语区使用的语言，属于西日耳曼语支，为这些地区的主要通用语言。zhǐ zài dé guó ào dì lì ruì shì děng dé yǔ qū shǐ yòng de yǔ yán shǔ yú xī rì ěr màn yǔ zhī wèi zhè xiē dì qū de zhǔ yào tōng yòng yǔ yán

Word origin

德 (dé, "Germany") + 语 (yǔ, "language") forms 德语 (déyǔ, "German"), making the compound a transparent language name.

Usage tips

  • The second syllable has the dipping third tone, not the rising tone of yú, a useful contrast when saying the word aloud.

Related words

  • 德语课dé yǔ kèGerman classnoun
  • 德语老师dé yǔ lǎo shīGerman teachernoun
  • 德语水平dé yǔ shuǐ píngGerman proficiencynoun

Word lists with this word