中音 (zhōng yīn) — (music) alto; tenor; middle register; (music) alto (voice or instrument)

Definition

Music term for the middle vocal or instrument register — between soprano and bass (voice) or higher/lower instrument ranges. As a voice type it covers both alto and tenor.

noun
(music) altotenormiddle register(music) alto (voice or instrument)

Examples

  • 中音。
    Tā zài hé chàng tuán chàng zhōng yīn.
    She sings alto in the choir.
  • 中音。
    Zhè bǎ zhōng yīn sà kè sī yīn sè hěn wēn nuǎn.
    This alto saxophone has a warm tone.
  • 中音。
    Tā shì yí wèi yōu xiù de zhōng yīn gē shǒu.
    He is an excellent tenor singer.

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
音yīnsound

中 describes the 音 as a middle register.

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 →

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 →

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