二重奏 (èr chóng zòu) — (instrumental) duet

Definition

Specifically an instrumental duet (two performers). Pair with 二重唱 when the duo is vocal rather than instrumental.

noun

(instrumental) duet

二重奏。
Tā men yì qǐ yǎn zòu le yì shǒu èr chóng zòu.
They performed a duet together.
二重奏。
Zhè shǒu èr chóng zòu xū yào liǎng wèi yīn yuè jiā pèi hé mò qì.
This duet requires good cooperation between the two musicians.
二重奏。
Tā hé xiǎo tí qín shǒu liàn xí le yí gè yuè de èr chóng zòu.
He practiced the duet with the violinist for a month.

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.

二重two voices

偏正Modifier + head

奏zòuperformance

二重 means two voices or layers, and 奏 is a performance, so it names a duet.

Characters in this word

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

二 is drawn as two parallel strokes, where the number of strokes shows the amount.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

東

東dōng重zhòng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

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.