Chinese Music & Opera Phrases — Mandarin for Traditional Instruments, Beijing Opera, Folk Music & Live Performances

Chinese traditional music has a history spanning over 5,000 years, with a rich variety of instruments classified into eight categories by material (八音 bā yīn): silk (丝 sī), bamboo (竹 zhú), wood (木 mù), stone (石 shí), metal (金 jīn), clay (土 tǔ), gourd (匏 páo), and hide (革 gé). Essential string instruments (弦乐器 xián yuè qì): 古筝 (gǔ zhēng) — zheng / Chinese zither (21 strings, played with finger picks, one of the most recognizable Chinese instruments with its sweeping glissandos and pentatonic tuning). 古琴 (gǔ qín) — guqin (7 strings, the most ancient and revered scholar's instrument — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, associated with Confucian cultivation; famous pieces include 高山流水 Gāo Shān Liú Shuǐ "High Mountains Flowing Water"). 二胡 (èr hú) — erhu (two-stringed fiddle, the most common Chinese bowed instrument, sweet and expressive voice — famous piece: 二泉映月 Èr Quán Yìng Yuè "Moon Reflected on Second Spring"). 琵琶 (pí pa) — pipa (four-stringed pear-shaped lute, known for virtuosic plucking techniques and dramatic battle pieces like 十面埋伏 Shí Miàn Mái Fú "Ambush from Ten Sides"). 扬琴 (yáng qín) — yangqin (hammered dulcimer, struck with bamboo mallets, bright percussive tone). 阮 (ruǎn) — ruan (round-bodied moon-shaped lute, four strings). 三弦 (sān xián) — sanxian (three-stringed long-necked lute, used in storytelling and opera accompaniment).

Wind instruments (管乐器 guǎn yuè qì): 笛子 (dí zi) — dizi / Chinese bamboo flute (transverse, with a distinctive buzzing membrane 笛膜 dí mó). 箫 (xiāo) — xiao / vertical end-blown bamboo flute (deeper, more meditative tone than dizi). 笙 (shēng) — sheng (mouth-blown free reed instrument, ancestor of the harmonica and accordion — produces chords). 唢呐 (suǒ nà) — suona (double-reed horn, piercing, festive sound — the "Chinese oboe," essential at weddings and funerals). Percussion (打击乐器 dǎ jī yuè qì): 锣 (luó) — gong, 鼓 (gǔ) — drum (many types: 大鼓 dà gǔ bass drum, 堂鼓 táng gǔ hall drum, 腰鼓 yāo gǔ waist drum), 钹 (bó) — cymbals, 木鱼 (mù yú) — wooden fish (used in Buddhist music and to keep rhythm), 编钟 (biān zhōng) — bronze bell set (ancient — the most important archaeological musical discovery, over 2,400 years old with a 5-octave range). Key phrases: 你会弹什么乐器 (nǐ huì tán shén me yuè qì) — What instrument do you play? 我想学古筝 (wǒ xiǎng xué gǔ zhēng) — I want to learn guzheng. 这个乐器叫什么 (zhè ge yuè qì jiào shén me) — What is this instrument called? 二胡的声音很美 (èr hú de shēng yīn hěn měi) — The erhu's sound is very beautiful.

Beijing Opera (京剧 jīng jù) is China's national treasure, combining music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics — recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. Essential vocabulary: 京剧 (jīng jù) — Beijing Opera, 戏曲 (xì qǔ) — traditional Chinese opera (the broader category), 表演 (biǎo yǎn) — performance, 舞台 (wǔ tái) — stage, 唱念做打 (chàng niàn zuò dǎ) — the four basic skills: singing, speaking, acting, and martial arts. The four main role types (行当 háng dang): 生 (shēng) — male role (老生 lǎo shēng old man with beard, dignified; 小生 xiǎo shēng young man, romantic; 武生 wǔ shēng martial male, acrobatic fight scenes). 旦 (dàn) — female role (青衣 qīng yī dignified virtuous woman; 花旦 huā dàn lively young woman; 武旦 wǔ dàn martial female; 老旦 lǎo dàn old woman; 彩旦 cǎi dàn female clown/comic role). 净 (jìng) — painted-face male role (大花脸 dà huā liǎn — bold, forceful characters with elaborate facial painting — each color has meaning: 红 hóng red = loyalty/courage like 关羽 Guān Yǔ; 黑 hēi black = integrity/neutral, occasionally fierceness like 包拯 Bāo Zhěng; 白 bái white = treachery/cunning like 曹操 Cáo Cāo; 蓝 lán blue = wild stubbornness; 黄 huáng yellow = brutality; 绿 lǜ green = violence/impulsiveness). 丑 (chǒu) — clown/comic role (文丑 wén chǒu civilian clown; 武丑 wǔ chǒu martial clown/acrobat — recognizable by the white patch around the nose and eyes).

Famous Beijing Opera plays (剧目 jù mù): 霸王别姬 (bà wáng bié jī) — Farewell My Concubine (the most famous — about Xiang Yu and Consort Yu at the end of the Chu-Han contention; also the title of the 1993 film starring 张国荣 Leslie Cheung). 贵妃醉酒 (guì fēi zuì jiǔ) — The Drunken Concubine (Yang Guifei, Tang Dynasty — the most famous 梅兰芳 Méi Lánfāng piece, showcasing exquisite 旦角 dàn jué performance). 空城计 (kōng chéng jì) — The Empty City Stratagem (Zhuge Liang from Three Kingdoms — famous 老生 lǎo shēng piece). 三岔口 (sān chà kǒu) — At the Crossroads (famous martial acrobatics piece — two fighters in darkness, best for beginners because of its physical comedy and accessibility). Key phrases: 我最喜欢看京剧 (wǒ zuì xǐ huān kàn jīng jù) — I like watching Beijing Opera the most. 这是哪个行当 (zhè shì nǎ ge háng dang) — What role type is this? 脸谱的颜色代表什么 (liǎn pǔ de yán sè dài biǎo shén me) — What do the facial make-up colors represent? 梅兰芳是最有名的京剧演员 (méi lán fāng shì zuì yǒu míng de jīng jù yǎn yuán) — Mei Lanfang is the most famous Beijing Opera performer (1894–1961, master of female roles, revolutionized 京剧 worldwide — the first Chinese performer to tour internationally).

China has over 300 regional opera forms. The most important beyond Beijing Opera: 昆曲 (kūn qǔ) — Kunqu Opera (the oldest surviving form, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — elegant, refined, literati opera; famous piece: 牡丹亭 Mǔ dān Tíng "The Peony Pavilion" by 汤显祖 Tāng Xiǎnzǔ, the Shakespeare of China, 1550–1616). 越剧 (yuè jù) — Yue Opera (from Zhejiang/Shanghai, second most popular nationally — all-female casts traditionally, romantic love stories, softer and more melodic than 京剧; famous piece: 梁山伯与祝英台 Liáng Shānbó yǔ Zhù Yīngtái "Butterfly Lovers," the Chinese Romeo and Juliet). 川剧 (chuān jù) — Sichuan Opera (famous for 变脸 biàn liǎn — face-changing, where performers instantly switch masks with a sweep of the hand — a guarded secret technique). 黄梅戏 (huáng méi xì) — Huangmei Opera (Anhui/Hubei, folk opera — simple melodies, love stories; famous piece: 天仙配 Tiān Xiān Pèi "Marriage of the Fairy Princess"). 豫剧 (yù jù) — Henan Opera (largest opera form by audience size — bold, powerful singing). 粤剧 (yuè jù) — Cantonese Opera (Guangdong/Hong Kong, also UNESCO heritage — elaborate costumes, martial arts, gong-and-drum music).

Folk music traditions: 民歌 (mín gē) — folk songs (each region has distinctive folk song traditions: 陕西信天游 Shǎnxī xìntiānyóu — northern Shaanxi high-mountain songs, raw and open; 云南民歌 Yúnnán míngē like 小河淌水 Xiǎo Hé Tǎng Shuǐ "Flowing Stream" — ethereal Yunnan folk songs; 蒙古长调 Měnggǔ chángdiào — Mongolian long song, sustained ornamented notes mimicking the grasslands). 民乐合奏 (mín yuè hé zòu) — Chinese orchestra / ensemble, 独奏 (dú zòu) — solo performance, 合奏 (hé zòu) — ensemble, 协奏曲 (xié zòu qǔ) — concerto. Key phrases: 昆曲非常优雅 (kūn qǔ fēi cháng yōu yǎ) — Kunqu is very elegant. 你会唱民歌吗 (nǐ huì chàng mín gē ma) — Can you sing folk songs? 变脸是川剧的特色 (biàn liǎn shì chuān jù de tè sè) — Face-changing is a specialty of Sichuan Opera. 这是哪个地方的民歌 (zhè shì nǎ ge dì fāng de mín gē) — What region's folk song is this?

Essential vocabulary for attending Chinese music and opera performances: 演出 (yǎn chū) — performance / show, 音乐会 (yīn yuè huì) — concert, 戏曲演出 (xì qǔ yǎn chū) — opera performance, 音乐厅 (yīn yuè tīng) — concert hall, 剧院 (jù yuàn) — theater, 国家大剧院 (guó jiā dà jù yuàn) — National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing's iconic egg-shaped building). Ticketing: 买票 (mǎi piào) — buy tickets, 售票处 (shòu piào chù) — box office, 网上订票 (wǎng shàng dìng piào) — book tickets online, 大麦网 (dà mài wǎng) — Damai (the main ticketing platform), 票价 (piào jià) — ticket price, 座位 (zuò wèi) — seat, 前排 (qián pái) — front row, 后排 (hòu pái) — back row, 中间 (zhōng jiān) — middle, 包厢 (bāo xiāng) — balcony box, 站票 (zhàn piào) — standing ticket, 黄牛票 (huáng niú piào) — scalped ticket (use 大麦网 instead).

Before and during the performance: 节目单 (jié mù dān) — program / playbill, 字幕 (zì mù) — subtitles (most opera houses now have LED subtitle screens — 字幕机 zì mù jī — essential for understanding opera lyrics, even for native speakers), 开场 (kāi chǎng) — curtain time / start, 中场休息 (zhōng chǎng xiū xī) — intermission, 谢幕 (xiè mù) — curtain call, 返场 (fǎn chǎng) — encore. Etiquette: 安静 (ān jìng) — quiet (audiences are expected to be quiet during Western classical performances but Chinese opera audiences are traditionally more vocal — shouting 好 hǎo "bravo!" at impressive moments is expected and encouraged). 鼓掌 (gǔ zhǎng) — to applaud, 拍照 (pāi zhào) — take photos (usually prohibited during performances — 演出期间禁止拍照 yǎn chū qī jiān jìn zhǐ pāi zhào). Key phrases: 我想买两张票 (wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng zhāng piào) — I'd like to buy two tickets. 还有票吗 (hái yǒu piào ma) — Are there still tickets? 最好的座位多少钱 (zuì hǎo de zuò wèi duō shǎo qián) — How much are the best seats? 演出多长时间 (yǎn chū duō cháng shí jiān) — How long is the performance? 有英文字幕吗 (yǒu yīng wén zì mù ma) — Are there English subtitles? 在哪里取票 (zài nǎ lǐ qǔ piào) — Where do I pick up tickets?

Essential vocabulary for appreciating and discussing Chinese music: 旋律 (xuán lǜ) — melody, 节奏 (jié zòu) — rhythm, 和声 (hé shēng) — harmony, 音色 (yīn sè) — timbre / tone color, 调式 (diào shì) — mode / scale (Chinese traditional music uses 宫商角徵羽 gōng shāng jué zhǐ yǔ — the five-tone pentatonic scale, unlike Western 7-note scales), 曲调 (qǔ diào) — tune, 乐章 (yuè zhāng) — movement, 作曲 (zuò qǔ) — to compose, 作曲者 (zuò qǔ zhě) — composer, 演奏 (yǎn zòu) — to perform / play (an instrument), 指挥 (zhǐ huī) — conductor, 乐团 (yuè tuán) — orchestra / ensemble (民乐团 mín yuè tuán — traditional Chinese orchestra; 交响乐团 jiāo xiǎng yuè tuán — symphony orchestra). Mood and style: 优美 (yōu měi) — graceful / beautiful, 激昂 (jī áng) — stirring / impassioned, 悲壮 (bēi zhuàng) — solemn and tragic, 欢快 (huān kuài) — joyful / lively, 雄壮 (xióng zhuàng) — majestic, 婉转 (wǎn zhuǎn) — melodious and moving, 典雅 (diǎn yǎ) — elegant and refined, 热闹 (rè nao) — lively / bustling (described festive folk music).

Key phrases for discussion: 你听过这首曲子吗 (nǐ tīng guò zhè shǒu qǔ zi ma) — Have you heard this piece? 这段旋律很感动 (zhè duàn xuán lǜ hěn gǎn dòng) — This melody is very moving. 你最喜欢哪种音乐 (nǐ zuì xǐ huān nǎ zhǒng yīn yuè) — What kind of music do you like most? 中国的传统音乐和西方音乐很不一样 (zhōng guó de chuán tǒng yīn yuè hé xī fāng yīn yuè hěn bù yī yàng) — Chinese traditional music is very different from Western music. 我觉得古琴的声音很有禅意 (wǒ jué de gǔ qín de shēng yīn hěn yǒu chán yì) — I think the guqin's sound has a Zen-like quality. For contemporary Chinese music: 你听中国流行音乐吗 (nǐ tīng zhōng guó liú xíng yīn yuè ma) — Do you listen to Chinese pop music? 我喜欢周杰伦和王菲 (wǒ xǐ huān zhōu jié lún hé wáng fēi) — I like Jay Chou and Faye Wong. 这首歌最近很火 (zhè shǒu gē zuì jìn hěn huǒ) — This song is very popular recently. For learning instruments: 我在找一个古筝老师 (wǒ zài zhǎo yī gè gǔ zhēng lǎo shī) — I'm looking for a guzheng teacher. 学古筝难吗 (xué gǔ zhēng nán ma) — Is learning guzheng difficult? 每天练多久比较好 (měi tiān liàn duō jiǔ bǐ jiào hǎo) — How long should I practice each day?