口语 kǒuyǔ colloquial speech
colloquial speech; spoken language; vernacular language; slander; gossip
How to remember 口语: 口 mouth (Kangxi radical 30) + 语 language = colloquial speech.
Characters
How it is used
- Refers to the spoken register of a language, as opposed to 书面语 shūmiànyǔ, the written register.
- Common in language-learning contexts: 练习口语 (liànxí kǒuyǔ) practice speaking, 口语考试 (kǒuyǔ kǎoshì) oral exam.
- Note it names the style/register itself, not the physical act of speaking - that's 说话 shuōhuà.