以前人們以為只有人類才懂得用語言溝通。

People used to think that only humans could use language.

Source: Tatoeba

Sentence Composition

1 以前 yǐqián
  1. before
  2. formerly
  3. previous
  4. ago
2 人們 rénmen people
3 以為 yǐwéi to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless referring to one's own current belief)
4 只有 zhǐyǒu
  1. only have ...; there is only ...
  2. (used in combination with 才 cái) it is only if ... (that one can ...) (as in 只有通過治療才能痊愈 zhǐyǒutōngguòzhìliáocáinéngquányù "the only way to cure it is with therapy")
  3. it is only (someone) who ... (as in 只有男性才有此需要 zhǐyǒunánxìngcáiyǒucǐxūyào "only men would have such a requirement")
  4. (used to express lack of alternatives) can only; have no choice but to (as in 只有屈服 zhǐyǒuqūfú "the only thing you can do is give in")
5 人類 rénlèi
  1. humanity
  2. human race
  3. mankind
=6 才 cái
  1. ability; talent
  2. sb of a certain type
  3. a capable individual
  4. then and only then
  5. just now
  6. (before an expression of quantity) only
=6 才 cái
  1. (variant of 才 cái) just now
  2. (variant of 才 cái) (before an expression of quantity) only
7 懂得 dǒngde to understand; to know; to comprehend
8 用語 yòngyǔ
  1. choice of words
  2. wording
  3. phraseology
  4. term
9 言 yán
  1. words
  2. speech
  3. to say
  4. to talk
10 溝通 gōutōng
  1. to join; to connect; to link up
  2. to communicate