母語者 / 母语者
mǔyǔzhě
The English phrase "native speaker" is translated into Chinese as 母語者 / 母语者 (mǔyǔzhě). Wiktionary also lists 母語人士 / 母语人士 (mǔyǔ rénshì).
Meaning: person who grew up with a particular language as their mother tongue (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 母語者 / 母语者 | mǔyǔzhě |
| 母語人士 / 母语人士 | mǔyǔ rénshì |
Both forms are used to describe a person who grew up with a particular language as their mother tongue.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 母語者 / 母语者 is composed of 母語 (mother tongue) and the suffix 者, which means a person or one who does something.
Which one should you use?
While 母語者 / 母语者 is common, 母語人士 / 母语人士 is a more formal and professional way to refer to a native speaker, often used in academic or linguistic contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
mǔyǔzhě
Did you know?
- While 母語者 is the standard term, people often use the colloquial phrase 地道 ('authentic' or 'pure') to describe a speaker who sounds like a native.
- Chinese speakers may use the term 母語 to refer to regional dialects like Cantonese or Hokkien, not just the overarching Chinese language.
- The character 者 in 母語者 is a classical Chinese suffix that allows any noun or verb to be turned into a person, similar to how 'one who' functions in older English.
Examples in context
- 他是一个土生土长的英语母语人士。He is a native English speaker.
- 这位教授以英语为母语。This professor is a native English speaker.
- 这位朋友是一位法语母语人士。This friend is a native French speaker.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “native speaker” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
