藏语
zàngyǔ
Tibetan in Chinese is 藏语 (zàngyǔ).
The term 藏语 is a noun used specifically to refer to the Tibetan language itself.
Meaning: a language (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of the character 藏 (zàng), which refers to Tibet or the Tibetan people.
Which one should you use?
While 藏语 refers to the language, other forms refer to the people or the region. Use 藏 or 西藏 when you mean the adjective 'of or pertaining to Tibet'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
藏语 functions as a noun to denote the Tibetan language.
How do you pronounce it?
zàngyǔ
Did you know?
- The character 藏 in 藏语 is also a homophone for the word 'hidden' or 'treasure', reflecting the traditional Chinese view of Tibet as a hidden land.
- The character 藏 used in 藏语 is a very common character in Buddhist texts, where it is often used to refer to 'tripiṭaka' or the 'Buddhist canon'.
- While 藏语 refers to the language, Chinese speakers use the term 藏文 (zàngwén) specifically when referring to the written Tibetan script.
Examples in context
- 他是一位藏族人。He is a Tibetan.
- 这个城市有很多藏人。This city has many Tibetans.
- 我有一个好朋友是藏东人。I have a good friend who is from Eastern Tibet.
- 我会说一点藏语。Wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zāngyǔ.I can speak a little Tibetan.
- 那本书是用藏语写的。Nà běn shū shì yòng Zāngyǔ xiě de.That book is written in Tibetan.
- 我想学习藏语。Wǒ xiǎng xuéxí Zāngyǔ.I want to learn Tibetan.
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their language electives in the library.
- 浩然 Haoran佳怡，你选了什么语言课？Jiāyí, nǐ xuǎnle shénme yǔyán kè?Jiayi, what language class did you choose?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我选了藏语。Wǒ xuǎnle Zāngyǔ.I chose Tibetan.
- 浩然 Haoran藏语很有意思，对吧？Zāngyǔ hěn yǒu yìsi, duì ba?Tibetan is very interesting, right?
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，我觉得很有挑战性。Shì de, wǒ juédé hěn yǒu tiǎozhàn xìng.Yes, I think it is very challenging.
