TongTong
Sign in

提琴 (tí qín) — the violin family of string instruments (e.g., violin, viola, cello, double bass)

Definition

提琴 is a general term for the bowed string instrument family — usually used with a prefix (小提琴 violin, 大提琴 cello, 中提琴 viola) to name a specific instrument. By itself it refers to the whole family, not the violin alone.

noun
the violin family of string instruments (e.g., violin, viola, cello, double bass)
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 提琴，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù xué xí tí qín, xiàn zài yǐ jīng huì lā dà tí qín le.
    He learned the violin family from a young age, and now he can play the cello.
  • 提琴：、。
    Zhè ge jiāo xiǎng yuè tuán yǒu gè zhǒng tí qín: xiǎo tí qín, zhōng tí qín hé dà tí qín.
    This symphony orchestra has all kinds of string instruments: violin, viola, and cello.
  • 提琴。
    Tā huā le hěn duō shí jiān yán jiū tí qín de lì shǐ hé fā zhǎn.
    He spent a lot of time studying the history and development of the violin family.

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.

提tílift/hold
琴qíninstrument

提 suggests lifting or holding and 琴 names a stringed instrument; together they refer to the violin family.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
是
是shì提tí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

提 shows 扌 (hand) beside 是, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 提 →

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 →
Appears in
Music

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.