水語 / 水语
shuǐyǔ
To say Sui, the language of the Sui people, in Chinese, use 水語 / 水语 (shuǐyǔ). If unsure, use 水語 / 水语. Wiktionary also lists 水族語 / 水族语.
Meaning: language (name)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 水語 / 水语 | shuǐyǔ |
| 水族語 / 水族语 |
What does it mean word for word?
水 (shuǐ) means water, and 語 means language.
Which one should you use?
水族語 / 水族语 is more common in formal or academic writing to name the language of the Sui ethnic group. 水族 (shuǐzú) refers to the ethnic group itself.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
In pinyin it is shuǐyǔ, with a dipping tone on both syllables. In connected speech the first syllable rises.
Did you know?
- The 水族 ('Sui people') are famous for their 水书 ('Water Script'), a unique set of characters used for ritual and astrological texts that differ entirely from Chinese characters.
- In Chinese, the term 族 ('zú') in 水族 ('Sui people') can mean 'tribe' or 'ethnic group', but in other contexts, it can also mean 'family' or 'clan'.
- The use of the term 水 ('water') in the language name reflects the identity of the Sui people, whose culture and history are historically linked to water-based environments.
Examples in context
- 我今年三十岁了。I am thirty years old this year.
- 请随我来。Please follow me.
- 虽然下雨，我们还是要去。Although it's raining, we still need to go.
- 他二十几岁。He is in his twenties.
- 随便你。Whatever you want.
- 你随便。Do as you like.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sui” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
