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音色 (yīn sè) — timbre; tone color (the quality of a sound that distinguishes different voices or instruments)

Definition

音色 (yīn sè) means 'timbre' — the quality of a sound that lets you tell voices or instruments apart, even at the same pitch and volume. Closest everyday English: 'tone color' or 'sound quality'.

noun
timbretone color (the quality of a sound that distinguishes different voices or instruments)

Examples

  • 音色，。
    Tā de yīn sè fēi cháng dú tè, yì tīng jiù zhī dào shì tā.
    Her timbre is very distinctive; I know it's her as soon as I hear her.
  • 音色。
    Gāng qín hé xiǎo tí qín de yīn sè bù tóng.
    The timbre of piano and violin are different.
  • ，音色。
    Zhè jiàn yuè qì suī rán pián yi, dàn yīn sè hěn hǎo.
    This instrument is cheap, but its timbre is very good.

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.

音yīnsound
色sècolor

音 refers to sound and 色 to color or quality, together describing the character of a tone.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

音 adds a short stroke that seals the mouth-like part, showing a covered or muffled sound rather than speech.

Open 音 →

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

  • 爪爪zhuǎclaw; hand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

Open 色 →
Appears in
Music

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