Chinese word

掌声

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǎng shēng

Meaning

nounapplause

Example

演出结束了，全场响起了掌声。yǎn chū jié shù le quán chǎng xiáng qǐ le zhǎng shēng

The performance ended, and the whole audience burst into applause.

More examples

学生答对后，教室里爆发出热烈的掌声。xué shēng dá duì hòu jiào shì lǐ bào fā chū rè liè de zhǎng shēng

After the student answered correctly, the classroom burst into enthusiastic applause.

Core concept

The sound of many hands striking together as a public sign of approval or welcome.

Common phrases

爆发出掌声bào fā chū zhǎng shēng
burst into applause
随之响起掌声suí zhī xiáng qǐ zhǎng shēng
applause followed

Similar words

喝彩hè cǎi: Loud cheers that show praise or approval.
欢呼huān hū: A loud cry from many people showing joy or support.
叫好jiào hǎo: A short shout of praise or approval.

Definition in Chinese

用手掌拍击发出的声音，表示赞许或欢迎的拍手。yòng shóu zhǎng pāi jī fā chū de shēng yīn biǎo shì zàn xǔ huò huān yíng de pāi shǒu

Word origin

掌 (zhǎng, "palm") + 声 (shēng, "sound") combines the source of the clapping with what it produces, then extends naturally from the noise to the approval it expresses.

Usage tips

Chinese commonly treats 掌声 (zhǎngshēng, "applause") as a mass noun, so it can describe a whole audience's response without focusing on individual claps.

Other meanings

acclaimnoun
ovationnoun

Opposites

嘘声xū shēngbooingnoun

Related words

掌声四起zhǎng shēng sì qǐapplause broke out all aroundidiom