言论

• Pinyin: yán lùn
• Hanzi breakdown: 言 = 口 (mouth) + sound-wave lines (speech); 论 = 讠(speech radical) + 仑 (logical order — reasoned, systematised discourse)

Meaning

Speech; discourse; statement of opinion; expressed views. Refers to spoken or written expressions of opinion or viewpoint, especially in public or political contexts.

Closely associated with the concept of free speech: 言论自由 (freedom of speech/expression). 言论 implies public expression of views rather than private conversation. 发表言论 = to make a statement/express a view. 限制言论 = to restrict speech. Common in legal, political, and journalistic discourse. More formal than 说法 (claim/view) and more rights-focused than 言辞 (the manner of words).

Examples

1. 宪法明确保障公民的言论自由，任何组织和个人均无权以任何理由对合法的公开言论进行打压或干涉。 The constitution clearly guarantees citizens’ freedom of speech; no organization or individual has the right to suppress or interfere with lawful public expression for any reason.
2. 他的极端言论在社交媒体上迅速扩散，引发了广泛争议，最终导致他被相关平台依据社区规则封禁账号。 His extreme remarks spread rapidly on social media and sparked widespread controversy, ultimately leading the platform to ban his account under its community rules.
3. 在历史上，许多具有前瞻性的思想家因其超越时代的言论而遭到当权者的迫害，其观点却在身后得到了广泛认可。 Throughout history, many forward-looking thinkers were persecuted by those in power for views ahead of their time, yet their ideas gained broad recognition after their deaths.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, journalism, academia

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 学术自由的核心在于允许研究人员在其专业领域内自由发表言论，而不必担忧因观点争议而遭受职业报复。(The core of academic freedom lies in allowing researchers to express their views freely within their field of expertise, without fear of professional retaliation for holding controversial positions.)
• 网络平台对用户的言论负有一定的监管责任，但如何在防范有害信息与保障言论空间之间取得平衡，至今仍是争议焦点。(Online platforms bear a degree of regulatory responsibility for users' speech, but how to strike a balance between curbing harmful content and safeguarding space for free expression remains a focal point of debate.)

Don't Say

• 言论说得不好 — 言论 is a noun (expressed speech/views); say 他的言论表达不当 or 他发表了不恰当的言论; the phrasing 言论说 is redundant as 言论 already contains the concept of speaking

Origin & History

言 (speech) + 论 (to discuss/discourse/theory) — spoken discussion and publicly expressed views

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal