琴 (qín) — guqin (ancient Chinese zither); musical instrument (esp. string or keyboard instruments)
Definition
Literally 'a stringed instrument' — used alone in 钢琴, 小提琴, etc. For 'musical instrument' in general, use the broader word 乐器 (yuèqì).
noun
guqin (ancient Chinese zither)musical instrument (esp. string or keyboard instruments)
Measure word · 架
Examples
- 。Tā tán qín hěn hǎo tīng.His playing of the guqin sounds beautiful.
- 琴？Nǐ měi tiān liàn qín duō cháng shí jiān?How long do you practice the instrument every day?
- 琴。Gāng qín shì tā zuì xǐ huan de qín.The piano is his favorite instrument.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.