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奏乐 (zòu yuè) — (verb) to play music (instrumental, often in a formal or ceremonial context)

Definition

奏 (zòu) means to play music, almost always in a formal or ceremonial setting (weddings, state events, concerts). For everyday 'play music' (at home, casually, or singing) prefer 唱 or 弹. 乐 here reads lè when used as a noun meaning 'piece of music'.

verb
to play music (instrumental, often in a formal or ceremonial context)

Examples

  • 奏乐。
    Tā men zài wǎn huì shàng zòu yuè.
    They played music at the party.
  • 。
    Tā wèi dà jiā zòu le yì shǒu lè.
    She played a piece of music for everyone.
  • ，奏乐。
    Hūn lǐ kāi shǐ hòu, yuè duì kāi shǐ zòu yuè.
    After the wedding began, the band started playing music.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

奏zòuplay
乐lèmusic

奏 conveys playing, and 乐 conveys music, so the word means to perform instrumental music.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樂; 乐 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 樂, 絲 (string) with 木 (wood) shows strings on a piece of wood, a musical instrument; the simplified 乐 is a later shorthand.

Open 乐 →
Appears in
Music

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