<p>Technically 'X语' refers to the spoken language and 'X文' refers to the written form, but in everyday life people do not normally make such fine distinction. The two forms can often be used interchangeably. I think 'X语' is more common in mainland China, and 'X文' is more common in Hong Kong and Taiwan.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-07T10:34:08.633Z
2012-04-07T10:34:08.633Z
Betty
<p>To add on accepted answer:</p>

<p>语 can be used not only as a reference to language, but as a reference to actually speaking/communicating. E.g. 低语 (diyu, whisper).</p>

<p>Whereas 文 can refer to anything written. For example 文件 (wenjian, generic for documents).</p>

<p>In Chinese language many [single] characters do not carry directly translatable meaning, but more of a concept, idea (for example 道, depending on a context and/or pairing with other characters can provide many translations). Only a few [single] characters have clear direct meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T05:34:19.247Z
2017-09-18T05:34:19.247Z
Alexey Kamenskiy
<p>I think 语 refers more specifically to <em>spoken</em> language, which is what you find in a movie, as opposed to <em>written</em> language, 文</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-18T15:12:46.380Z
2012-02-18T15:12:46.380Z
金迭戈
<p>It seems that the "language" descriptor on a movie, tv show, or comic is always listed using 语 instead of 文. (国语, 英语, 德语, etc) instead of 英文.  This is common even when listing the subtitles (although with subtitles I also see 文).</p>

<p>Why is it that 语 is used so much in this context?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-18T16:10:38.267Z
**Related**: [What's the actual difference between 文 and 语?](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/979/43)
Alenanno
<word-choice>
Why is 语 used so much when describing the language media is presented in?
# Why is 语 used so much when describing the language media is presented in?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-18)

It seems that the "language" descriptor on a movie, tv show, or comic is always listed using 语 instead of 文. (国语, 英语, 德语, etc) instead of 英文. This is common even when listing the subtitles (although with subtitles I also see 文).

Why is it that 语 is used so much in this context?

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: **Related**: [What's the actual difference between 文 and 语?](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/979/43)  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-02-18. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

I think 语 refers more specifically to *spoken* language, which is what you find in a movie, as opposed to *written* language, 文


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### Answer by username_2 on 2012-04-07. Score: 3

Technically 'X语' refers to the spoken language and 'X文' refers to the written form, but in everyday life people do not normally make such fine distinction. The two forms can often be used interchangeably. I think 'X语' is more common in mainland China, and 'X文' is more common in Hong Kong and Taiwan.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-09-18. Score: 1

To add on accepted answer:

语 can be used not only as a reference to language, but as a reference to actually speaking/communicating. E.g. 低语 (diyu, whisper).

Whereas 文 can refer to anything written. For example 文件 (wenjian, generic for documents).

In Chinese language many [single] characters do not carry directly translatable meaning, but more of a concept, idea (for example 道, depending on a context and/or pairing with other characters can provide many translations). Only a few [single] characters have clear direct meaning.


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