琶

pá

巴 + 玨

Frequency#3612

Definitions

pá see 琵琶, pipa lute

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 玨 represents the meaning and 巴 represents the sound.

Semantic: 玨 Phonetic: 巴

About

The character "琶" was formed specifically for the compound word "琵琶", the name of a plucked string instrument, by combining the phonetic component "巴" to indicate its pronunciation with the semantic component "玨" at the top, which is derived from the character for jade and may implicitly reference the instrument's materials or the arrangement of its strings. Since its creation, "琶" has been used exclusively within this musical term, denoting the pipa without developing separate meanings, and its structural composition has remained consistent in its standard form.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她在弹琵琶。

Tā zài tán pípa.

She is playing the pipa.

我喜欢听琵琶音乐。

Wǒ xǐhuān tīng pípa yīnyuè.

I like listening to pipa music.

这位音乐家擅长演奏琵琶。

Zhè wèi yīnyuèjiā shàncháng yǎnzòu pípa.

This musician is skilled at playing the pipa.

音乐会上有琵琶独奏。

Yīnyuèhuì shàng yǒu pípa dúzòu.

There is a pipa solo at the concert.

琵琶的声音非常优美。

Pípa de shēngyīn fēicháng yōuměi.

The sound of the pipa is very beautiful.

中国古代就有琵琶这种乐器。

Zhōngguó gǔdài jiù yǒu pípa zhè zhǒng yuèqì.

There has been the instrument pipa since ancient China.

她弹奏的琵琶曲令人陶醉。

Tā tánzòu de pípa qǔ lìng rén táozuì.

The pipa piece she plays is enchanting.

虽然琵琶源于西域，但早已融入中国文化。

Suīrán pípa yuán yú xīyù, dàn zǎo yǐ róngrù Zhōngguó wénhuà.

Although the pipa originated from the Western Regions, it has long been integrated into Chinese culture.

Related Characters

Component: 巴

Component: 玨

琶