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中提琴 (zhōng tí qín) — viola

Definition

Literally "middle string instrument" — the mid-range bowed string between the 小提琴 (violin) and 大提琴 (cello). Played with a 弓, counted with 把.

noun
viola
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 中提琴。
    Tā xǐ huan lā zhōng tí qín.
    She likes to play the viola.
  • 中提琴。
    Zhè bǎ zhōng tí qín shì wǒ yé ye de.
    This viola is my grandfather's.
  • 中提琴。
    Tā zài yuè tuán lǐ yǎn zòu zhōng tí qín.
    He plays the viola in the orchestra.

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.

中zhōngmiddle
提琴violin
提tílift琴qínstring instrument
偏正Modifier + head

中 (middle) + 提琴 (violin) gives the middle-sized violin, the viola.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

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

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