敲锣打鼓 (qiāo luó dǎ gǔ) — to beat gongs and drums (idiom, lit.); to make a big commotion, especially to celebrate or attract attention (fig.)

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning 'beat gongs and drums' literally, but used figuratively for making a big public fuss to celebrate or publicize something.

idiom
to beat gongs and drums (idiom, lit.)to make a big commotion, especially to celebrate or attract attention (fig.)

Examples

  • ，敲锣打鼓。
    Tā men wèi le qìng zhù shèng lì, zài jiē shàng qiāo luó dǎ gǔ.
    They beat gongs and drums on the street to celebrate victory.
  • ，敲锣打鼓，。
    Zhè jiàn shì běn lái hěn xiǎo, tā què dào chù qiāo luó dǎ gǔ, nòng dé dà jiā dōu zhī dào.
    This matter was actually very small, but he made a big fuss everywhere, letting everyone know.
  • ，敲锣打鼓。
    Guǎng gào xuān chuán shí, shāng jiā wǎng wǎng huì qiāo luó dǎ gǔ dì xī yǐn gù kè.
    When advertising, businesses often create a big commotion to attract customers.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

敲锣beat gongs
敲qiāobeat锣luógong
动宾Verb + object
打鼓beat drums
打dǎstrike鼓gǔdrum
动宾Verb + object

“敲锣” and “打鼓” name parallel striking actions, together evoking loud celebration.

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
攴攴pūto hit lightly; to tap
Sound part声符shēngfú
高
高gāo敲qiāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

敲 combines 高, which supplies the sound, with 攴, meaning to hit lightly or tap.

Open 敲 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 锣 →

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
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Open 打 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 壴壴zhùdrum
  • 支支zhīhand holding drumstick

鼓 combines 壴, a drum, with 支, a hand holding a drumstick, so the character pictures a drum being struck.

Open 鼓 →

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