快板 (kuài bǎn) — clapper talk (a traditional Chinese rhythmic storytelling performance accompanied by bamboo clappers)

Definition

快板 is a traditional Chinese storytelling art: the performer recites a fast, rhyming tale while striking two bamboo clappers. The rhythm is lively, and the bamboo clappers themselves are also called 快板.

noun
clapper talk (a traditional Chinese rhythmic storytelling performance accompanied by bamboo clappers)
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 快板。
    Yé ye nián qīng shí hěn xǐ huan tīng kuài bǎn.
    Grandpa really liked listening to clapper talk when he was young.
  • 快板。
    Zhè wèi yì shù jiā biǎo yǎn le yí duàn kuài bǎn.
    This artist performed a piece of clapper talk.
  • 快板，。
    kuài bǎn De jié zòu fēi cháng kuài, tīng qǐ lái hěn rè nao.
    The rhythm of clapper talk is very fast, and it sounds lively.

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.

快kuàifast
板bǎnclapper/beat

快 conveys speed and 板 names the clapper or beat, giving a fast clapper piece or tempo.

Characters in this word

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài快kuài
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

快 pairs the left part 忄 (full form 心, the heart) with the right part 夬, which gives the sound.

Open 快 →

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
反
反fǎn板bǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

板 pairs 木 (tree) with 反 as a sound part.

Open 板 →

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