外语

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 外语 (wàiyǔ) for "foreign language" is composed of two characters: 外 (wài) meaning "outside" or "foreign," and 语 (yǔ) meaning "language" or "speech." The term 外语 is used to refer to any language other than the primary language spoken in a particular region or country. In the context of China, 外语 typically refers to languages other than Mandarin Chinese, which is the official language of the People's Republic of China.The character 外 (wài) has a long history in Chinese, dating back to the oracle bone script of the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE). In its original form, the character depicted a person standing outside a gate or enclosure, symbolizing the concept of "outside" or "beyond." Over time, the character evolved to take on a more abstract meaning, referring to anything that is external, foreign, or different.The character 语 (yǔ) also has a rich history, dating back to the oracle bone script of the Shang dynasty. In its original form, the character depicted a mouth with a tongue, symbolizing the concept of "speech" or "language." Over time, the character evolved to take on a more general meaning, referring to any form of communication, including written language, spoken language, and sign language.When combined, the characters 外 (wài) and 语 (yǔ) form the compound word 外语 (wàiyǔ), which literally means "outside language" or "foreign language." This term is used to refer to any language that is not the primary language spoken in a particular region or country. In the context of China, 外语 typically refers to languages other than Mandarin Chinese, which is the official language of the People's Republic of China.