民歌

• Pinyin: mín gē
• Hanzi breakdown: 民 = the people/folk; 歌 = 哥 (phonetic) + 欠 (breathe out), to sing. Songs of ordinary people.

Meaning

Folk song; traditional song passed down among the common people.

Refers to songs originating from ordinary people rather than professional composers, often reflecting local customs, labor, and life experiences. Each region of China has distinctive folk songs, such as 陕北民歌 (Northern Shaanxi folk songs) or 江南小调 (Jiangnan melodies). Modern folk-inspired pop music sometimes draws on these traditions.

Examples

1. 奶奶经常唱起家乡的民歌，歌声里满是对过去岁月的怀念。 Grandma often sings folk songs from her hometown, her voice full of nostalgia for the old days.
2. 这位音乐人走遍全国各地，收集整理了上千首濒临失传的民歌。 This musician traveled all over the country, collecting and organizing over a thousand folk songs that were on the verge of being lost.
3. 云南的民歌旋律优美，歌词里充满了对大自然的热爱。 Yunnan's folk songs have beautiful melodies, with lyrics full of love for nature.

Usage Guide

Context: music, culture, traditions

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 我很喜欢听民歌。(I really enjoy listening to folk songs.)
• 这首民歌流传了几百年。(This folk song has been passed down for centuries.)

Don't Say

• 把流行歌曲称为民歌 (民歌 specifically refers to traditional folk songs, not modern pop)

Origin & History

Compound of 民 (people/folk) + 歌 (song). Songs of the common people.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal