母语 mǔyǔ native language
native language; mother tongue; (linguistics) parent language
How to remember 母语: 母 mother + 语 language = native language.
Characters
How it is used
- One's native language/mother tongue - 汉语是我的母语 (Hànyǔ shì wǒ de mǔyǔ) Chinese is my mother tongue, 母语者 (mǔyǔzhě) a native speaker.
- The language one grows up speaking; also the linguistic 'parent language'.
- Contrast 外语 (wàiyǔ, foreign language); 母语 is your first, inborn language.
Example sentences
- 我不是个母语者。 Wǒ búshì gè mǔyǔ zhě.I'm not a native speaker.
- 你的母语是什么？ Nǐ de mǔyǔ shì shénme?What's your mother tongue?
- 法语是我的母语。 Fǎyǔ shì wǒ de mǔyǔ.French is my mother tongue.