语言 (yǔ yán)

Character breakdown

• 语 (yǔ) · 9 strokes

  Simplified form of 語. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 吾 represents the sound.

• 言 (yán) · 7 strokes

  Pictograph of a tongue (舌) sticking out of a mouth. In old scripts 言 was written the same as 舌 but with an extra line.