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演奏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
演奏
yǎnzòu
to play a musical instrument
HSK 6, v, 23 strokes, rank #3137, Hard
演奏
yǎnzòu
to perform music
HSK 6, v, 23 strokes, rank #3137, Hard
演奏
yǎnzòu
to perform on a musical instrument
HSK 6, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #3137, Hard
yǎnzòu(yan3zou4)yan zou T3
1to play a musical instrument
2to perform music
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March 24, 2026
演奏yǎnzòu(yan3zou4)
演奏 (yǎnzòu) refers to the act of playing a musical instrument or performing music. This term is often used in formal contexts, such as concerts or recitals, where musicians showcase their skills. It emphasizes the performance aspect, highlighting the artistic expression involved in playing music.
Strokes23Frequency#3137DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, musical performances often carry a deep cultural significance, reflecting traditional values and artistic heritage. 演奏 is not just about music; it represents cultural identity, especially in contexts like Peking opera or traditional Chinese instrument performances.
Memory tip
Think of 演奏 as 'yarn' (演) being 'woven' (奏) into a musical tapestry. Imagine a musician skillfully weaving their notes together on stage, creating a beautiful fabric of sound. The 'yarn' visual helps remember the pronunciation and the performance aspect of the character.
Meanings of 演奏
yǎnzòu(yan3zou4)
1to play a musical instrument
2to perform music
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 演奏 means.
About 演奏
演奏Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3137Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 演奏
Podcast: 演奏
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AI study notes for 演奏
Quick Contrast
演奏 (yǎnzòu) vs 演出 (yǎnchū): use 演奏 when focusing on the act of playing an instrument, while 演出 refers to the broader act of performing, which can include acting or other forms of artistic presentation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 演奏 with the more general term for 'play' (玩, wán), which is used for games and casual activities. 演奏 is used in formal contexts, so it’s best suited for music-related conversations. Common collocations include 演奏音乐 (to perform music) and 演奏乐器 (to play an instrument).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 演奏 connects to other musical terms like 音乐 (yīnyuè, music) and 乐器 (yuèqì, musical instrument). Students should focus on understanding its use in different contexts, such as live performances, and practice using it in sentences related to music.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 演奏 in casual contexts, where 玩 is more appropriate. For example, saying '我想演奏玩游戏' (I want to perform playing a game) is incorrect; it should be '我想玩游戏'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 演奏
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How to say to play a musical instrument in Chinese
“to play a musical instrument” in Chinese is演奏yǎnzòu
演奏 (yǎnzòu) refers to the act of playing a musical instrument or performing music. This term is often used in formal contexts, such as concerts or recitals, where musicians showcase their skills. It emphasizes the performance aspect, highlighting the artistic expression involved in playing music.
When to use 演奏
Be careful not to confuse 演奏 with the more general term for 'play' (玩, wán), which is used for games and casual activities. 演奏 is used in formal contexts, so it’s best suited for music-related conversations. Common collocations include 演奏音乐 (to perform music) and 演奏乐器 (to play an instrument).
演奏 or something close to it
演奏 (yǎnzòu) vs 演出 (yǎnchū): use 演奏 when focusing on the act of playing an instrument, while 演出 refers to the broader act of performing, which can include acting or other forms of artistic presentation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 演奏 in casual contexts, where 玩 is more appropriate. For example, saying '我想演奏玩游戏' (I want to perform playing a game) is incorrect; it should be '我想玩游戏'.
Write 演奏
演
奏
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Practice writing 演奏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 演奏
演奏 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____钢琴的戴夫将这支曲子反复弹了两三遍。
Dave, the pianist, played it over a couple of times.
Example sentences for 演奏 (16)
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1
演奏钢琴的戴夫将这支曲子反复弹了两三遍。
yǎnzòu gāngqín de dài fū jiāng zhè zhī qǔzi fǎnfù dàn le liǎng sān biàn。
Dave, the pianist, played it over a couple of times.
2
这支管弦乐队呈现了精彩的演奏，堪称其多年来的巅峰演奏。
zhè zhī guǎn xián yuèduì chéngxiàn le jīngcǎi de yǎnzòu， kānchēng qí duōniánlái de diānfēng yǎnzòu。
The orchestra contrived to produce some of its best playing for years.
3
这位领导人也学会了演奏得更加优美动听。
zhè wèi lǐngdǎo rén yě xuéhuì le yǎnzòu de gèngjiā yōuměi dòngtīng。
The leader has also learned to play more melodically.
4
一名身穿晚礼服的表演者用小提琴演奏了几段古典音乐。
yī míng shēn chuān wǎn lǐfú de biǎoyǎn zhě yòng xiǎotíqín yǎnzòu le jǐ duàn gǔdiǎn yīnyuè。
A performer in evening dress plays classical selections on the violin.
5
有些段落他演奏得异常徐缓，听上去有些忧伤。
yǒuxiē duànluò tā yǎnzòu de yìcháng xú huǎn， tīng shàngqù yǒuxiē yōu shāng。
He plays some passages so slowly that they become lugubrious.
6
他的小号演奏独创一格。
tā de xiǎo hào yǎnzòu dú chuàng yī gé。
His playing as a trumpet player was quite revolutionary.
At the concert, Teacher Li will personally play a piece of traditional Chinese guzheng music.
12
在音乐节上，刘明用萨克斯演奏了一首动人的爵士乐。
Zài yīnyuè jié shàng, Liú Míng yòng sàkèsī yǎnzòu le yī shǒu dòngrén de juéshì yuè.
At the music festival, Liu Ming played a moving jazz piece on the saxophone.
13
在这场音乐会上，她用长笛演奏了一首优美的民谣。
Zài zhè chǎng yīnyuè huì shàng, tā yòng chángdí yǎnzòu le yī shǒu yōuměi de mínyáo.
At the concert, she played a beautiful folk song on the flute.
14
这位年轻的音乐家能娴熟地演奏多种乐器，包括吉他和钢琴。
Zhè wèi niánqīng de yīnyuè jiā néng xiánshú de yǎnzòu duō zhǒng yuèqì, bāokuò jítā hé gāngqín.
This young musician can skillfully play multiple instruments, including the guitar and piano.
15
每次他演奏古典吉他，观众都被他的技巧和情感所打动。
Měi cì tā yǎnzòu gǔdiǎn jítā, guānzhòng dōu bèi tā de jìqiǎo hé qínggǎn suǒ dǎdòng.
Every time he plays classical guitar, the audience is moved by his skill and emotion.
16
在公园的露天舞台上，他们的乐队正在演奏一首充满活力的摇滚乐。
Zài gōngyuán de lùtiān wǔtái shàng, tāmen de yuèduì zhèngzài yǎnzòu yī shǒu chōngmǎn huólì de yáogǔn yuè.
On the open-air stage in the park, their band is playing an energetic rock song.
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Frequently asked questions about 演奏
演奏 specifically refers to playing musical instruments, while 表演 (biǎoyǎn) is a broader term that means to perform, including acting and other performances.
Yes, 演奏 can refer to any type of music, but it's primarily used in formal or artistic contexts.
You can use 演奏 with various instruments, such as 钢琴 (gāngqín, piano), 小提琴 (xiǎotíqín, violin), or 吉他 (jítā, guitar).
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