Chinese word

民歌

Pronunciation

Pinyinmín gē

Meaning

  • nounfolk song

Example

我喜欢听民歌。wǒ xǐ huān tīng mín gē

I like listening to folk songs.

Illustration for 民歌 (folk song)

More examples

他收集了很多地方民歌的录音。tā shōu jí le hěn duō dì fāng mín gē de lù yīn

He collected recordings of many local folk songs.

Core concept

A song that travels through a community, preserving shared experiences and feelings in an easy-to-learn tune.

Common phrases

  • 地方民歌dì fāng mín gē

    local folk songs

  • 演唱民歌yǎn chàng mín gē

    perform folk songs

  • 保存民歌bǎo cún mín gē

    safeguard folk songs

Similar words

民谣mín yáo: A traditional folk song passed on by ear through plain language and a friendly melody.

Definition in Chinese

民歌是流传于民间、语言通俗、曲调容易学唱并常反映民众生活与情感的歌曲。mín gē shì liú chuán yú mín jiān yǔ yán tōng sú qǔ diào róng yì xué chàng bìng cháng fǎn yìng mín zhòng shēng huó yǔ qíng gǎn de gē qǔ

Word origin

The two characters combine 民 (mín, "people") with 歌 (gē, "song"), linking the name to music created, shared, and remembered in public life rather than to a named author.

Usage tips

  • Because lyrics may preserve regional speech and everyday vocabulary, recordings of this kind can expose learners to forms that differ from standard classroom Chinese.

Opposites

  • 流行音乐liú xíng yīn yuèpop musicnoun

Related words

  • 民歌传承mín gē chuán chéngfolk-song traditionnoun
  • 民歌研究者mín gē yán jiū zhěfolk-song researchernoun

Word lists with this word