noun HSK 2
Traditional 音樂
yīn yuè
music

Meaning

音乐 is the general term for music of all kinds. It can refer to recorded music, live performances, musical compositions, or the art form itself. This is one of the most fundamental and commonly used words when discussing entertainment, art, or culture.

Usage

Used in all contexts from casual conversation to formal writing. Commonly appears with verbs like 听 (tīng, to listen), 玩 (wán, to play), 喜欢 (xǐhuan, to like), and 欣赏 (xīnshǎng, to appreciate). Native speakers use it to discuss genres, performances, or simply background music.

Examples

  1. 01
    我每天都听音乐
    měi tiān dōu tīng yīn yuè.
    I listen to music every day.
  2. 02
    她喜欢古典音乐
    xǐhuan diǎn yīn yuè.
    She likes classical music.

Characters

Measure words

  • shǒu一首音乐
  • zhǒng一种音乐

Common collocations

  • 音乐
    tīng yīn yuè
    to listen to music
  • 音乐
    yīn yuè huì
    concert
  • 音乐
    yīn yuè jiā
    musician
  • 流行音乐
    liú xíng yīn yuè
    pop music

Origin

音 originally depicted sound or tone, while 乐 in this context means music (though it can also be read as lè meaning happiness). Together they form the compound for the art of organized sound.

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