一切經音義 71.119

71.119

Words and phrases (言詞: [言 is] fanqie 魚鞬; the lower character [詞 is] fanqie 似資. Speaking directly is called yan [言]; it means speaking of one's own affairs. Answering and narrating is called yu [語]; it means speaking for someone else. The Book of Rites [Liji] says: "During the three years of mourning, one may speak [yan] but not converse [yu]"—this is it. Yan also means to say; it also means to manifest an omen. The Shuowen jiezi says: "Ci [詞] means having the idea inside and expressing it in words outside; it also means scrutinizing words.")