汉语
Chinese language; Mandarin
HSK level
- Pinyin
- Hànyǔ
- Part of speech
- noun
- Level
- HSK 1
- Strokes
- 14
- Register
- neutral
- Measure word
- 门 / 种
Stroke order for 汉语
汉语 is written with 14 strokes (汉: 5, 语: 9). The animation replays automatically.
What does 汉语 mean?
汉语 (Hànyǔ) is the formal name for the Chinese language, literally 'language of the Han' — the Han being the dominant ethnic group of China.
It is the term used in academic and pedagogical settings: the HSK test is short for 汉语水平考试 (Hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì, 'Chinese Proficiency Test'), and Chinese-as-a-second-language textbooks usually say 汉语 in the title. In daily conversation Chinese speakers more often say 中文 (Zhōngwén), which can refer to written or spoken Chinese and feels less technical.
A finer distinction: 汉语 emphasizes the spoken language (the suffix 语 means 'spoken language'), while 中文 (literally 'Chinese writing') leans toward the written form, though both are now used interchangeably in practice. For Mandarin specifically as opposed to other Chinese languages, native speakers say 普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà, 'common speech').
Note: Slightly more formal/academic than 中文. Used in textbook titles, language tests (HSK = 汉语水平考试), and linguistic discussion. In casual speech, 中文 is more common.
Character by character
Memory hook: 汉 (Han) + 语 (language) = the language of the Han people.
Example sentences
我学汉语。
Wǒ xué Hànyǔ.
I study Chinese.
neutral
你会说汉语吗？
Nǐ huì shuō Hànyǔ ma?
Can you speak Chinese?
spoken
汉语很有意思。
Hànyǔ hěn yǒuyìsi.
Chinese is very interesting.
neutral
他的汉语很好。
Tā de Hànyǔ hěn hǎo.
His Chinese is very good.
neutral
Common phrases with 汉语
Synonyms
Don't confuse 汉语 with
英语 = English (语 + 英 'English/UK'). Same 语 suffix, different prefix. 汉语 = Chinese, 英语 = English, 日语 = Japanese, 法语 = French.
汉字 means 'Chinese character(s)' — the writing system. 汉语 is the language (spoken or general). 'I'm learning Chinese' = 我学汉语; 'I'm learning Chinese characters' = 我学汉字.
FAQ
Acquire it by listening
Meet 汉语 again — in real Chinese, at your level.
Fluentide turns real news into Chinese listening at your exact level, so words like 汉语 show up again and again in natural sentences — with pinyin and translation every time. No flashcards. Free to start.