西班牙语
The phrase for the Spanish language in Chinese is 西班牙语.
西班牙语 is used to refer specifically to the Spanish language.
Which one should you use?
While 西班牙语 refers to the Spanish language, the term 西班牙 refers to the country of Spain.
Did you know?
- The character 班牙 has no meaning on its own in modern Chinese and exists almost exclusively as part of the name for Spain and the Spanish language.
- In Chinese, the word for 'language' in 西班牙语 is 语, which specifically refers to spoken language. For written Spanish, a different character, 文, is used in 西班牙文.
- If you are in Taiwan, you might encounter the term 西語 or 西班牙文 instead of the mainland version used in mainland China.
Examples in context
- Lǎoshī, wǒ xiǎng xué Xī Yǔ (老师，我想学西语)Teacher, I want to learn Spanish.
- Wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān xuéxí Xībānyá Yǔ (我非常喜欢学习西班牙语)I really enjoy learning Spanish.
- Xībānyá Yǔ shì wǒ de àihào (西班牙语是我的爱好)Spanish is my hobby.
- Wǒ men yìqǐ xué Xī Yǔ ba! (我们一起学西语吧！)Let's learn Spanish together!
- 我会说一点西班牙语。Wǒ huì shuō yīdiǎn Xībānyáyǔ.I can speak a little Spanish.
- 西班牙语很有趣。Xībānyáyǔ hěn yǒuqù.Spanish is very interesting.
- 他在学西班牙语。Tā zài xué Xībānyáyǔ.He is learning Spanish.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing language learning at a cafe.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你想学什么语言？Nǐ xiǎng xué shénme yǔyán?What language do you want to learn?
- 伟 Wei我想学西班牙语。Wǒ xiǎng xué Xībānyáyǔ.I want to learn Spanish.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你会说西班牙语吗？Nǐ huì shuō Xībānyáyǔ ma?Do you speak Spanish?
- 伟 Wei目前还不会。Mùqián hái bù huì.Not yet.
