曲

• Pinyin: qǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 曲 = 曰 + 一 (originally depicts a bent shape; extended to music whose melody rises and falls)

Meaning

Song; melody; musical composition; a piece of music, vocal or instrumental.

A broad term for musical works. Combined forms: 乐曲 (musical piece), 歌曲 (song), 民曲 (folk tune). Also refers to classical verse-song forms such as 词曲. Always use with a classifier: 一首曲子.

Examples

1. 她轻声哼唱着一支古老的民曲，神情沉浸而安详。 She softly hummed an old folk tune, looking absorbed and serene.
2. 这首乐曲由著名作曲家创作，至今仍是音乐会的经典曲目。 Composed by a renowned composer, this piece remains a concert classic to this day.
3. 每逢春节，街头巷尾便回荡着喜庆欢腾的节日乐曲。 Every Spring Festival, festive holiday music echoes through streets and alleys.

Usage Guide

Context: music, arts, culture, performance

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这位民间艺人将失传已久的古老曲调重新整理改编，使这些珍贵的地方音乐遗产得以延续传承。(This folk artist rearranged long-lost ancient melodies, allowing these precious local musical heritage pieces to continue being passed down.)
• 交响乐团为这首传统民曲配以现代管弦乐编制，既保留了原作的古朴韵味，又赋予其全新的艺术生命力。(The symphony orchestra arranged this traditional folk tune with modern orchestration, preserving the rustic charm of the original while giving it new artistic vitality.)

Don't Say

• 她唱了一首曲 — the correct form is 一首曲子 or 一首乐曲; 曲 alone as a standalone noun sounds incomplete in modern speech and must be paired with a classifier or compound

Origin & History

曲 (original meaning: bent/curved, extended to musical notes that rise and fall like a curve)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal