1 How to refer to different languages

You may already know country names such Zhōngguó 中国 (China), Yīngguó 英国 (United Kingdom) or Fǎguó 法国 (France), now you will learn how to turn the country names into their corresponding language.

Activity 1

Match the following maps with the correct languages.

Image depicting the shape of Italy.

yìdàlìwén 意大利文

Image depicting the shape of Germany.

déwén 德文

Image depicting the shape of France.

fǎwén 法文

Image depicting the shape of the UK.

yīngwén 英文

Using the following two lists, match each numbered item with the correct letter.

  1. Image depicting the shape of Italy.

  2. Image depicting the shape of Germany.

  3. Image depicting the shape of France.

  4. Image depicting the shape of the UK.

  1. yìdàlìwén 意大利文

  2. déwén 德文

  3. fǎwén 法文

  4. yīngwén 英文

The correct answers are:
  • 1 =
  • 2 =
  • 3 =
  • 4 =

Using the answers from the previous question complete the following statements, matching the correct parts of their sentences. How do you form the names of various languages?

replace guó 国 (country) with wén 文 (language).

If the relevant country name ends in the character, guó 国,

add wén 文 in order to form the name of the language

If the relevant country name does not end in the character guó 国,

Using the following two lists, match each numbered item with the correct letter.

  1. replace guó 国 (country) with wén 文 (language).

  2. add wén 文 in order to form the name of the language

  1. If the relevant country name ends in the character, guó 国,

  2. If the relevant country name does not end in the character guó 国,

The correct answers are:
  • 1 =
  • 2 =