Yue
/ˈjuː/noun
A term referring to the Yue branch of Sinitic languages, especially Cantonese, or to the historic Yue region of southern China.
Did you know?The modern linguistic term Yue ultimately connects with the ancient name of the Yue kingdom, although the historical character 越 and the modern regional character 粤 have distinct written histories.
Etymological Timeline
1st Millennium BCE
Old Chinese
越
“The name of the ancient Yue state and of peoples associated with southern China.”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
越 Yuè
“A historical name connected with Yue political territories and southern peoples.”
6th–10th Century
Middle Chinese
越 hjwot
“The Middle Chinese pronunciation recorded in medieval phonological traditions.”
19th Century
European Sinology
Yueh
“An older romanization used in English-language writing for Yue-related names and speech.”
20th Century
Mandarin Pinyin
Yuè
“The pinyin form used for Yue, including the Yue branch of Sinitic and the Guangdong region.”
Modern English
English
Yue
“A linguistic and historical term, most commonly associated with Cantonese and southern China.”