粤语
yuèyǔ
yue refers to the Chinese language variety known as 粤语 (yuèyǔ).
While English speakers often call the language 'Cantonese', the term 粤语 is the formal name used in Chinese to refer to the language of the Yue dialect group.
Meaning: variety of Chinese (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The character 粤 (yuè) is an abbreviation for Guangdong province, which is the primary region where this language is spoken.
How do you pronounce it?
yuèyǔ
Did you know?
- The term 粤 refers to the 'Hundred Yue' people, an ancient group of diverse tribes who lived in southern China and northern Vietnam long before the Han dynasty.
- Although 粤语 is often grouped as a 'dialect' in Chinese, it is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin, making it more like a separate language than a regional accent.
- Because 粤语 has more tones than Mandarin, it preserves many ancient sounds from Middle Chinese that have been lost in the north.
Examples in context
- 他正在学习粤语。Tā zhèngzài xuéxí Yuèyǔ.He is studying Cantonese.
- 我不大会说粤语。Wǒ bù dà huì shuō Yuèyǔ.I can't speak Cantonese very well.
- 这种粤语口音很地道。Zhè zhǒng Yuèyǔ kǒuyīn hěn dìdao.This Cantonese accent is very authentic.
Example conversation
Yuting and Junjie are discussing their language skills.
- 俊杰 Junjie雨婷，你会说粤语吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ huì shuō Yuèyǔ ma?Yuting, can you speak Yue?
- 雨婷 Yuting我会说一点点。Wǒ huì shuō yīdiǎndiǎn.I can speak a little bit.
- 俊杰 Junjie太棒了，教我几句吧。Tài bàng le, jiāo wǒ jǐ jù ba.That's great, teach me a few sentences.
- 雨婷 Yuting没问题，我们现在就开始。Méi wèntí, wǒmen xiànzài jiù kāishǐ.No problem, let's start now.
