小提琴

• Pinyin: xiǎo tí qín
• Hanzi breakdown: 小 = small; 提 = 扌+ 是 (hand + right — to lift/carry); 琴 = 珏 + 今 (paired jade strings — a stringed instrument)

Meaning

Violin; the bowed string instrument held under the chin, the smallest and highest-pitched of the standard orchestral string family.

The violin was introduced to China in the early twentieth century and became a prestige instrument associated with classical Western music education. Many Chinese parents encourage children to learn the violin. Prominent Chinese violinists have achieved international acclaim. The term 小提琴 literally means 'small lift-bow instrument.'

Examples

1. 她从五岁开始学习小提琴，如今已能演奏多首难度极高的协奏曲。 She started learning the violin at age five, and now she can play several extremely difficult concertos.
2. 交响乐团中小提琴手的数量最多，他们分为第一小提琴和第二小提琴两个声部。 In a symphony orchestra, violinists are the most numerous; they’re divided into first and second violin sections.
3. 他在国际小提琴大赛中摘得金奖，引发了国内媒体的广泛关注和报道。 He won the gold prize at an international violin competition, drawing widespread attention and coverage from domestic media.

Usage Guide

Context: music, education, classical performance

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这位年仅十二岁的小提琴神童以惊人的技巧和音乐感染力征服了现场所有观众。(This twelve-year-old violin prodigy captivated every audience member present with astonishing technique and musical expressiveness.)
• 学习小提琴需要长期坚持和大量练习，但一旦入门，它将成为终身受益的艺术技能。(Learning the violin requires long-term perseverance and extensive practice — but once mastered, it becomes an artistic skill that benefits one for life.)

Don't Say

• 我拉了小提琴一个小时 — say 我拉了一个小时的小提琴; time duration phrases in Chinese require the noun to follow

Origin & History

小 (small) + 提 (lift/carry) + 琴 (stringed instrument) — a small stringed instrument held up; a calque translation of 'violin'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Middle class and above