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节奏 (jié zòu) — rhythm; tempo; pace (of life, work, music, etc.)

Definition

节奏 means 'rhythm' in music or 'pace' in life/work — more vivid and rhythmic than 速度 (pure speed) and broader than 步伐 (literal walking steps).

noun
rhythmtempopace (of life, work, music, etc.)
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 节奏。
    Zhè shǒu gē de jié zòu fēi cháng kuài.
    The rhythm of this song is very fast.
  • 节奏。
    Tā tiào wǔ de shí hou zǒng shì gēn bú shàng jié zòu.
    When he dances, he always can't keep up with the rhythm.
  • 节奏。
    Xiàn dài rén de jié zòu yuè lái yuè kuài le.
    Modern people's pace of life is getting faster and faster.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

节jiébeat
奏zòumusical movement

'节' refers to beats and '奏' to musical movement, together expressing rhythm.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 節; 节 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺮Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
即
即jí節jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 節 pairs ⺮ (bamboo) with 即, which gives the sound; the bamboo part points to a node of bamboo. The simplified 节 is a later abbreviation.

Open 节 →

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

The shape of 奏 pictures hands holding an object, perhaps an instrument used in a ritual, or hands collecting resin dripping from a cut tree.

Open 奏 →
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