独唱 (dú chàng) — solo (vocal performance by one person) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A vocal solo — singing by one person, without a partner. Contrast with 合唱 (chorus, group singing) and 重唱 (vocal duet/ensemble).

noun

solo (vocal performance by one person)

Measure word · 首

Examples

独唱。
Tā jīn wǎn yǒu yí gè dú chàng biǎo yǎn.
She has a solo performance tonight.
独唱。
Zhè shǒu dú chàng qǔ mù hěn nán chàng.
This solo piece is very difficult to sing.
独唱。
Tā dì yī cì zài yīn yuè huì shàng chàng dú chàng.
He sang a solo at the concert for the first time.

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.

'独' means alone, and '唱' means singing, so the word names a solo vocal performance.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

犭蜀獨

Meaning part形符xíngfú

犭Written in full as犬quǎn

Sound part声符shēngfú

蜀

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

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

口昌唱

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

昌

昌chāng唱chàng

Same sound today

The 口 part points to the mouth, while 昌 shows how the character is pronounced.

Appears in

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