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民歌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
民歌míngēfolk songHSK 6, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #21990, Hard
míngē(min2ge1)min ge T2
  1. 1folk song
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March 24, 2026

民歌míngē(min2ge1)

民歌 (mín gē) refers to folk songs that are traditionally sung by the common people, often reflecting their daily lives, beliefs, and cultural practices. These songs are typically passed down through generations and can vary significantly between regions, showcasing local dialects and customs.

Strokes19Frequency#21990DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, 民歌 are an important part of regional identity and are often performed during festivals and celebrations, linking communities through shared cultural expressions.

Memory Tip

Think of '民' (mín) as representing 'people' and '歌' (gē) as 'song.' Picture a group of people sitting around a fire, singing songs that tell stories of their ancestors and celebrate their community, making it easier to remember that 民歌 means folk songs.

Meanings of 民歌

míngē(min2ge1)
1folk song
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 民歌

民歌Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
支Measure Word
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

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Podcast: 民歌

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AI Study Notes for 民歌

Quick Contrast

民谣 (mínyáo) — use 民歌 for songs specifically tied to folk traditions, while 民谣 may refer more broadly to ballads or narrative songs.

Usage Notes

民歌 is usually used in informal contexts when discussing music or cultural heritage. A common mistake is to confuse it with 经典歌曲 (jīngdiǎn gēqǔ), which means 'classic songs' and may not necessarily reflect folk traditions. Be mindful of the tone when discussing different music genres.

HSK Study Tips

While 民歌 may not be explicitly listed in HSK vocabulary, it connects with Level 3 and 4 words related to culture and music, such as 歌 (gē) and 文化 (wénhuà). Focus on understanding how folk songs reflect societal values and the emotional content of the lyrics.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use '民歌' to refer to any song, rather than specifically folk songs. For example, saying '我喜欢民歌和流行歌' (I like folk songs and pop songs) is correct, but using it interchangeably with '歌曲' (songs) can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 民歌

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Component Characters

民mínthe people
HSK 45 strokes民
View full entry
歌gēsong
HSK 114 strokes欠
View full entry

How to say folk song in Chinese

“folk song” in Chinese is民歌míngē

民歌 (mín gē) refers to folk songs that are traditionally sung by the common people, often reflecting their daily lives, beliefs, and cultural practices. These songs are typically passed down through generations and can vary significantly between regions, showcasing local dialects and customs.

When to use 民歌

民歌 is usually used in informal contexts when discussing music or cultural heritage. A common mistake is to confuse it with 经典歌曲 (jīngdiǎn gēqǔ), which means 'classic songs' and may not necessarily reflect folk traditions. Be mindful of the tone when discussing different music genres.

民歌 or something close to it

民谣 (mínyáo) — use 民歌 for songs specifically tied to folk traditions, while 民谣 may refer more broadly to ballads or narrative songs.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use '民歌' to refer to any song, rather than specifically folk songs. For example, saying '我喜欢民歌和流行歌' (I like folk songs and pop songs) is correct, but using it interchangeably with '歌曲' (songs) can lead to confusion.

Write 民歌

民
歌

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Frequently Asked Questions about 民歌

民歌 are traditional folk songs rooted in local culture, while pop songs are contemporary and often produced for commercial purposes.

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