Definition
插曲 has two related meanings: 1) incidental music or a soundtrack piece in a film/play, and 2) a brief event or interlude that occurs within a larger narrative. In the figurative sense, it differs from 片段 (piàn duàn, 'fragment/excerpt') because 插曲 suggests an interruption or side event that is separate from the main story, while 片段 is simply a part of the whole.
noun
incidental musicsoundtrack piece (in a film, play, etc.)episodeinterludebrief event (figurative)
Examples
- 插曲，。Zhè bù diànshìjù de chā qǔ fēicháng gǎnrén, měi cì tīng dōu ràng rén xiǎng kū.The incidental music of this TV series is really touching; every time I hear it, it makes me want to cry.
- 插曲，。Lǚxíng zhōng yù dào le yí gè xiǎo chā qǔ, dàn hěn kuài jiù jiějué le.We ran into a small episode during the trip, but it was quickly resolved.
- 插曲。Piànwěi de chā qǔ ràng wǒ duì zhè bù diànyǐng de yìnxiàng gèng shēn le.The end-credits piece made my impression of this movie even stronger.
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