口语
spoken language; oral
kǒuyǔ
What does 口语 mean?
口语 (kǒuyǔ) means 'spoken language' or 'oral (skills)' — the everyday speech register of a language as opposed to its written form. Language learners use 口语 constantly when describing their abilities: '我的中文口语不太好' 'my spoken Chinese isn't very good,' '我想练习口语' 'I want to practice speaking.' Two contrasts with English: first, English collapses the speaking SKILL ('speaking') and the spoken REGISTER ('colloquial / spoken') into one word, while Chinese uses 口语 for both — context decides. 口语课 is a 'speaking class'; 口语表达 is 'spoken/colloquial expression.' Second, 口语 pairs with 书面语 (shūmiànyǔ, 'written language / formal register') — together they describe the spoken/written divide that matters a lot in Chinese, where some words and grammar appear only in writing (e.
g. 之 vs. 的, 因此 vs. 所以). Speakers can describe a word as '口语化' (colloquial)
Character breakdown
mouth; opening
language; speech
Memory hook: 口 'mouth' + 语 'language' = mouth-language — what comes out when you speak.
Example sentences
我的中文口语还不太好。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén kǒuyǔ hái bú tài hǎo.
My spoken Chinese isn't very good yet.
spoken
她想找老师练习口语。
Tā xiǎng zhǎo lǎoshī liànxí kǒuyǔ.
She wants to find a teacher to practice speaking with.
neutral
今天下午有口语考试。
Jīntiān xiàwǔ yǒu kǒuyǔ kǎoshì.
There's an oral exam this afternoon.
neutral
他的英语口语非常流利。
Tā de Yīngyǔ kǒuyǔ fēicháng liúlì.
His spoken English is extremely fluent.
neutral
多听多说是提高口语的好方法。
Duō tīng duō shuō shì tígāo kǒuyǔ de hǎo fāngfǎ.
Listening and speaking a lot is a great way to improve speaking.
written
Common phrases with 口语
Synonyms
口头 means 'oral / verbal' as an adjective describing how something is communicated (口头通知 oral notification, 口头协议 verbal agreement). 口语 specifically refers to the spoken language itself or speaking skills.
Don't confuse 口语 with
口音 = 'accent' (regional or foreign pronunciation). 口语 = 'spoken language / speaking skill.' '他有南方口音' he has a southern accent; '他口语很好' he speaks well.
语言 = 'language' in general (Chinese is a language). 口语 = the SPOKEN form of a language. 'I'm learning a language' = 我在学一门语言; 'I'm practicing spoken Chinese' = 我在练口语.
FAQ
Acquire by listening
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