noun
flowery but empty words; pretentious talk
Obsolete term for ornate but insubstantial speech; not used in modern conversation. Found in classical texts or literary contexts.
彼の演説は華言に過ぎず、実質がなかった。
His speech was nothing but flowery words, lacking substance.
noun
Chinese language
Obsolete term for the Chinese language; modern Japanese uses 中国語. May appear in historical or literary contexts.
江戸時代の学者は華言を学ぶことが多かった。
Scholars in the Edo period often studied the Chinese language.
Composed of 華 (flower, splendor) and 言 (word, speech), literally 'flowery words'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is now obsolete.