cípái: 词牌 - Poetic Tune Title, Song-Poem Pattern

• Keywords: 词牌, cipai, ci poetry, song-poem pattern, poetic tune title, Chinese poetry form, Song dynasty poetry, metrical pattern, poetic template, what is a cipai, classical Chinese literature
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 词牌 (cípái), the essential poetic tune titles or metrical patterns that form the backbone of classical Chinese ci poetry. Learn what a cípái is, how it dictates the rhythm, tone, and rhyme of a poem, and its crucial significance in Chinese literary history, particularly from the Song Dynasty.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): cípái
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The specific title of a rhythmic, tonal, and metrical pattern used as a template for composing a Chinese ci (词) poem.
• In a Nutshell: Think of a 词牌 (cípái) as a musical score or a blueprint for a classical poem. It doesn't tell the poet what to write about, but it dictates how to write it. The cípái specifies the number of lines, the number of characters per line, the required tonal pattern (level or oblique tones), and the rhyming scheme. Poets choose a cípái and then fill in their own words, fitting their unique message into the pre-existing structure.

• 词 (cí): This character means “word,” “phrase,” or “diction.” In this context, it specifically refers to a genre of poetry called ci (词), which was particularly popular during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD).
• 牌 (pái): This character means “plaque,” “sign,” or “brand.” It acts as a label or a name tag.
• When combined, 词牌 (cípái) literally translates to a “poetry plaque” or “poetry brand name.” It is the official name of the specific pattern or “tune” the poem is written to.

The concept of 词牌 (cípái) is central to understanding one of China's most celebrated literary forms: ci (词) poetry. Originally, ci were lyrics written to be sung to existing popular tunes. The 词牌 (cípái) was the name of the tune itself. For example, a poet would decide to write lyrics for the tune “Joy at Meeting” (相见欢) and would have to follow its unique musical and lyrical structure. Over time, the music for most of these tunes was lost, but the structural patterns—the rhythm, line length, and tonal requirements—remained. The 词牌 (cípái) lived on as a purely poetic template. This demonstrates the deep, historical connection between music and poetry in Chinese culture. The ability to express profound, original emotion while adhering to these strict, traditional forms is considered a mark of great literary skill. To draw a Western parallel, a 词牌 (cípái) is somewhat like a “sonnet” or a “limerick.” Both are poetic forms with strict rules about meter, line count, and rhyme scheme. However, the cípái is far more specific, often including rules about the tonal contour (平仄 píngzè, level and oblique tones) of the characters, a feature absent in English poetry. A single cípái can be used by countless poets to write completely different poems, just as many composers might write a “sonata” in C minor.

In modern China, 词牌 (cípái) is not a word you'll hear in everyday conversation. Its usage is almost exclusively confined to literary, academic, and historical contexts.

• In Education: Students studying classical Chinese literature will learn about different 词牌 (cípái) and analyze famous poems written according to their patterns.
• Among Enthusiasts: Poetry lovers and amateur poets who still practice classical forms will discuss the merits and difficulties of writing to a particular 词牌 (cípái).
• In Media: Documentaries, books, and articles about the Song Dynasty or famous poets like Su Shi and Li Qingzhao will frequently mention the 词牌 (cípái) they famously used.

The term carries a formal and scholarly connotation. Using it correctly shows a deeper appreciation for the nuances of Chinese cultural history.

• Example 1:
  • 这首词的词牌是《如梦令》。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu cí de cípái shì “Rú Mèng Lìng”.
  • English: The poetic tune title for this ci poem is “Like a Dream.”
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence identifying the specific cípái of a poem. This is a common way the term is used in literary analysis.
• Example 2:
  • 你知道苏轼最擅长用哪个词牌吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào Sū Shì zuì shàncháng yòng nǎge cípái ma?
  • English: Do you know which poetic tune title Su Shi was best at using?
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how poets are often associated with their mastery of particular cípái.
• Example 3:
  • 学习写词，首先要了解不同词牌的格律。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí xiě cí, shǒuxiān yào liǎojiě bùtóng cípái de gélǜ.
  • English: To learn to write ci poetry, you must first understand the metrical rules of different poetic tune titles.
  • Analysis: This highlights the technical function of a cípái as a set of rules (格律 gélǜ).
• Example 4:
  • 每个词牌对句子的长短和押韵都有严格的要求。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge cípái duì jùzi de chángduǎn hé yāyùn dōu yǒu yángé de yāoqiú.
  • English: Every poetic tune title has strict requirements regarding sentence length and rhyming.
  • Analysis: This sentence further clarifies what kind of “rules” a cípái dictates.
• Example 5:
  • 老师让我们选择一个词牌，然后自己填词。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen xuǎnzé yí ge cípái, ránhòu zìjǐ tiáncí.
  • English: The teacher had us choose a poetic tune title and then write our own lyrics for it.
  • Analysis: “填词 (tiáncí)” literally means “to fill in words,” which is the classical term for writing a ci poem to a pre-existing cípái.
• Example 6:
  • 《满江红》是一个非常有名且充满力量的词牌。
  • Pinyin: “Mǎnjiānghóng” shì yí ge fēicháng yǒumíng qiě chōngmǎn lìliàng de cípái.
  • English: “Man Jiang Hong” (The River Runs Red) is a very famous and powerful poetic tune title.
  • Analysis: This shows that different cípái can have their own associated mood or feeling, often based on the most famous poem written to that pattern.
• Example 7:
  • 有些词牌很短，叫作“小令”，有些则很长。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē cípái hěn duǎn, jiàozuò “xiǎolìng”, yǒuxiē zé hěn cháng.
  • English: Some poetic tune titles are very short, called “xiaoling” (short tunes), while others are very long.
  • Analysis: This introduces a sub-category, demonstrating the variety among different cípái.
• Example 8:
  • 这个词牌的来源据说和一个唐朝皇帝的故事有关。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge cípái de láiyuán jùshuō hé yí ge Táng cháo huángdì de gùshi yǒuguān.
  • English: The origin of this poetic tune title is said to be related to a story about a Tang Dynasty emperor.
  • Analysis: Many cípái have fascinating origin stories, linking them to history, folklore, or music.
• Example 9:
  • 尽管他们用了同一个词牌，但李清照和辛弃疾的风格完全不同。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn tāmen yòngle tóng yí ge cípái, dàn Lǐ Qīngzhào hé Xīn Qìjí de fēnggé wánquán bùtóng.
  • English: Although they used the same poetic tune title, the styles of Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji are completely different.
  • Analysis: A key point: the same structure (cípái) can be used to express vastly different artistic styles and emotions.
• Example 10:
  • 我正在读一本关于宋代词牌演变的书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhèngzài dú yī běn guānyú Sòng dài cípái yǎnbiàn de shū.
  • English: I am reading a book about the evolution of poetic tune titles in the Song Dynasty.
  • Analysis: This shows a typical academic use of the term in a modern context.

• Mistake: Confusing the 词牌 (cípái) with the Poem's Topic.
  • A common error for learners is to think the cípái is the actual title or subject of the poem. It is not. The cípái is the name of the form. For example, Su Shi's famous poem written to the cípái “水调歌头” (Shuǐdiào Gētóu) is about the mid-autumn moon, not about a “water tune.” The poem is often referred to by its first line, but its structural “form name” remains “Shuǐdiào Gētóu.”
  • Incorrect: “The poem's title is 'Shuǐdiào Gētóu'.”
  • Correct: “The poem was written to the tune title (cípái) 'Shuǐdiào Gētóu'.”
• Mistake: Assuming all Classical Poetry Uses 词牌 (cípái).
  • The 词牌 (cípái) system is specific to the genre of ci (词). The other major genre, shi (诗), has its own distinct set of rules and forms, such as “Jueju” (绝句) and “Lüshi” (律诗), which are not called cípái.

• 词 (cí): The genre of Chinese poetry that utilizes cípái. It is often translated as “song-poem” due to its musical origins.
• 宋词 (Sòngcí): Ci poetry from the Song Dynasty, considered the golden age of the form. The most famous cípái and poems date from this era.
• 格律 (gélǜ): The overarching term for the rules of meter, tone, and rhyme in classical Chinese poetry. A cípái is a specific set of gélǜ.
• 平仄 (píngzè): The “level and oblique” tones. A core component of gélǜ, this binary tonal system is a key rule dictated by every cípái.
• 押韵 (yāyùn): To rhyme. The cípái specifies which lines must end with a rhyming character.
• 填词 (tiáncí): Literally “to fill in words.” This is the verb for the act of composing a ci poem by following the pattern of a pre-existing cípái.
• 诗 (shī): The other major form of classical Chinese poetry, which predates ci and has a different set of structural rules.
• 苏轼 (Sū Shì): A preeminent poet of the Song Dynasty, a master of the ci form, famous for his works written to various cípái.
• 李清照 (Lǐ Qīngzhào): Arguably China's most famous female poet, she was an exceptionally skilled writer of ci, known for her delicate and moving style.