Meaning
歌曲 refers to a song or musical composition, especially one with lyrics meant to be sung. It's a general term that encompasses various types of songs, from pop music to traditional folk songs. The word combines 歌 (song/to sing) with 曲 (tune/melody) to emphasize the complete musical work.
Usage
This is a neutral, standard term used in both formal and informal contexts. It's commonly used when discussing music in general, referring to specific songs, or talking about music composition. Native speakers might use simpler words like 歌 in casual conversation, but 歌曲 is preferred in more formal contexts like music reviews, academic discussions, or written Chinese.
Examples
- 01这首歌曲很好听，我每天都听。, .This song is very pleasant to listen to; I listen to it every day.
- 02他创作了很多优美的歌曲。.He has composed many beautiful songs.
Characters
Measure words
- 首三首歌曲
Common collocations
- 流行歌曲popular song; pop song
- 民歌曲folk song
- 一首歌曲a song
- 创作歌曲to compose a song
Origin
Both characters have ancient origins. 歌 combines the radical for 'words/speech' with a phonetic component, while 曲 originally depicted something bent or curved, later extended to mean a musical tune with its rises and falls.