Chinese Conversation · Level 76
90 words
Chinese word
演奏
Pronunciation
Pinyinyǎn zòu
Meaning
- verbplay
Example
她在音乐会上演奏了钢琴。tā zài yīn yuè huì shàng yǎn zòu le gāng qín
She played the piano at the concert.
More examples
他在练习时反复演奏钢琴的那一段。tā zài liàn xí shí fǎn fù yǎn zòu gāng qín de nà yí duàn
He repeatedly played that passage on the piano while practicing.
Core concept
Music takes shape through skilled control of an instrument, as a player brings a written work to life with sound and interpretation.
Common phrases
演奏钢琴yǎn zòu gāng qín
play the piano
演奏乐曲yǎn zòu yuè qǔ
play a piece of music
在音乐会上演奏zài yīn yuè huì shàng yǎn zòu
perform at a concert
Similar words
弹dàn: Produce music by plucking strings or pressing keys on an instrument.
演唱yǎn chàng: Use the voice to sing a song and express its melody, words, and emotion.
表演biáo yǎn: Present a role or story through acting and movement on a stage or screen.
Definition in Chinese
用乐器表演音乐作品，强调技巧与对音乐的再现与表现。yòng yuè qì biáo yǎn yīn yuè zuò pǐn qiáng diào jì qiǎo yǔ duì yīn yuè de zài xiàn yǔ biǎo xiàn
Word origin
The compound 演 (yǎn, "perform") + 奏 (zòu, "play an instrument") joins public presentation with making instrumental music, giving the word its focused sense of performing a musical work.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, the instrument or musical work often follows this verb, which helps identify a musical performance rather than another kind of performance.
Other meanings
- performancenoun
Opposites
- 聆听líng tīnglisten as an audience memberverb
Related words
- 演奏者yǎn zòu zhěperformernoun
- 演奏家yǎn zòu jiāmusiciannoun
- 演奏会yǎn zòu huìconcertnoun