四弦琴 (sì xián qín) — violin

Definition

Literally "four-string instrument." In modern usage it refers to the violin, but the term is older/literary — 小提琴 is the everyday word you will meet at lower HSK levels.

noun
violin
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 四弦琴，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo xué xí sì xián qín, xiàn zài yǐ jīng néng yǎn zòu hěn duō míng qǔ le.
    She has been learning the violin since childhood and can now perform many famous pieces.
  • 四弦琴，。
    Zhè bǎ sì xián qín de yīn sè fēi cháng yōu měi, shì hé yǎn zòu gǔ diǎn yīn yuè.
    The tone of this violin is very beautiful, suitable for playing classical music.
  • 四弦琴，。
    Tā zhèng zài liàn xí sì xián qín, zhǔn bèi cān jiā xià ge yuè de bǐ sài.
    He is practicing the violin, preparing for next month's competition.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

四弦four strings
四sìfour弦xiánstring
偏正Modifier + head
琴qíninstrument

四弦 (four strings) and 琴 (instrument) make a four-stringed instrument.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 四 was drawn as a nose breathing out. It later came to be used for the word four.

Open 四 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōngbow
Sound part声符shēngfú
玄
玄xuán弦xián
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

弦 uses 弓 (bow) to show what it is about and 玄 to show how it is pronounced.

Open 弦 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
珡珡qín
Sound part声符shēngfú
今
今jīn琴qín
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

琴 pairs 珡, the part tied to its sense as a stringed instrument, with 今, which gives the sound.

Open 琴 →

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