xuánlǜ: 旋律 - Melody, Tune

• Keywords: 旋律, xuanlv, melody in Chinese, Chinese music, tune in Chinese, Chinese song, how to say melody in Chinese, 旋律 meaning, 旋律 example sentences, rhythm vs melody in Chinese, 节奏, C-pop music terms.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese music term 旋律 (xuánlǜ), which directly translates to “melody” or “tune.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in Chinese music, and practical usage when discussing everything from classical pieces to modern C-pop. Discover how the characters 旋 (revolve) and 律 (law) combine to perfectly describe a song's most memorable, flowing sequence of notes. With over 10 example sentences and a clear guide to avoid common mistakes, you'll be able to talk about your favorite songs in Chinese with confidence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xuánlǜ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The main sequence of musical notes that creates the tune of a song or piece of music.
• In a Nutshell: 旋律 (xuánlǜ) is the part of a song that you hum or sing along to. It's the musical “sentence” that carries the main theme and emotion. Think of the singer's vocal line in a pop song or the main violin part in an orchestra—that's the 旋律. It's what makes a song feel beautiful, catchy, sad, or happy.

• 旋 (xuán): This character means “to revolve,” “to spin,” or “to circle.” It paints a picture of something flowing and returning in a cyclical pattern, much like a musical phrase.
• 律 (lǜ): This character means “law,” “rule,” or “rhythm.” In ancient times, it specifically referred to standardized pitches used in music, like a musical scale. It implies structure and order.

When combined, 旋律 (xuánlǜ) literally translates to something like “revolving laws” or “circling rules.” This beautifully captures the essence of a melody: a structured sequence of notes (the “laws”) that moves, flows, and often repeats in a pleasing, circular pattern.

In Chinese culture, the 旋律 (xuánlǜ) is often considered the soul of a piece of music. Traditional Chinese music, played on instruments like the 古筝 (gǔzhēng) or 笛子 (dízi), is frequently monophonic, meaning it focuses intensely on a single, highly expressive melodic line rather than the complex harmonies common in Western classical music.

• Comparison to Western Music: While Western music since the Renaissance has heavily emphasized harmony and counterpoint (multiple melodies playing at once), much of traditional Chinese music prioritizes conveying a specific mood or 意境 (yìjìng)—an artistic conception or atmosphere—through the subtle nuances of a single 旋律. The melody is the primary storyteller, painting a picture of a landscape, a poem, or an emotion. This melodic focus is still evident in many modern Chinese songs, where a clear, beautiful vocal line is paramount.

旋律 (xuánlǜ) is a standard and universally understood term used in any context related to music. It's neither overly academic nor slang.

• In Conversation: People use it casually to describe songs they like or dislike. For example, “I love this song, its melody is so catchy!” (我喜欢这首歌，它的旋律太上口了！).
• On Social Media: When discussing new C-pop (Mandopop) releases, comments will often focus on the 旋律. You might see comments like “旋律好听” (The melody is good to listen to) or “旋律一般” (The melody is just average).
• In Music Education: It is the standard technical term used in music classes, from elementary school to conservatories, to refer to melody.

Its connotation is neutral, but it is almost always modified by an adjective (e.g., beautiful, simple, complex, sad) that gives it a positive or negative flavor.

• Example 1:
  • 这首歌的旋律非常优美，让人一听就忘不了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gē de xuánlǜ fēicháng yōuměi, ràng rén yī tīng jiù wàngbuliǎo.
  • English: This song's melody is extremely beautiful; it makes you unable to forget it after just one listen.
  • Analysis: A very common and straightforward way to praise a song's melody using the adjective 优美 (yōuměi - graceful/beautiful).
• Example 2:
  • 虽然我忘了歌词，但我还记得那段熟悉的旋律。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán wǒ wàngle gēcí, dàn wǒ hái jìde nà duàn shúxī de xuánlǜ.
  • English: Although I've forgotten the lyrics, I still remember that familiar melody.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the difference between 歌词 (gēcí - lyrics) and 旋律, showing how the tune can be more memorable than the words.
• Example 3:
  • 他是个天才作曲家，能轻易地创作出动人的旋律。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge tiāncái zuòqǔjiā, néng qīngyì de chuàngzuò chū dòngrén de xuánlǜ.
  • English: He's a genius composer who can easily create moving melodies.
  • Analysis: Here, 旋律 is the object of the verb 创作 (chuàngzuò - to create/compose).
• Example 4:
  • 这首摇篮曲的旋律很简单，很适合哄宝宝睡觉。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu yáolánqǔ de xuánlǜ hěn jiǎndān, hěn shìhé hōng bǎobao shuìjiào.
  • English: The melody of this lullaby is very simple, very suitable for lulling a baby to sleep.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates that a melody doesn't have to be complex. It can be simple, as shown by 简单 (jiǎndān).
• Example 5:
  • 这支广告的背景音乐旋律太洗脑了，我脑子里一直在重复。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī guǎnggào de bèijǐng yīnyuè xuánlǜ tài xǐnǎo le, wǒ nǎozi lǐ yīzhí zài chóngfù.
  • English: The background music melody of this commercial is such an earworm, it keeps repeating in my head.
  • Analysis: This shows a more modern, colloquial usage. 洗脑 (xǐnǎo - literally “brainwash”) is a common way to describe a catchy tune that gets stuck in your head.
• Example 6:
  • 贝多芬的《欢乐颂》的旋律是全世界最著名的旋律之一。
  • Pinyin: Bèiduōfēn de “Huānlè Sòng” de xuánlǜ shì quán shìjiè zuì zhùmíng de xuánlǜ zhīyī.
  • English: The melody of Beethoven's “Ode to Joy” is one of the most famous melodies in the world.
  • Analysis: Used here to discuss well-known classical music.
• Example 7:
  • 这首歌的编曲很棒，但是旋律本身有点平淡。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gē de biānqǔ hěn bàng, dànshì xuánlǜ běnshēn yǒudiǎn píngdàn.
  • English: The arrangement of this song is great, but the melody itself is a bit bland.
  • Analysis: A critical use of the word. 平淡 (píngdàn) means plain or dull, showing that the melody lacks excitement.
• Example 8:
  • 你能帮我把这段旋律用吉他弹出来吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎ zhè duàn xuánlǜ yòng jítā tán chūlái ma?
  • English: Can you help me play this melody on the guitar?
  • Analysis: Shows 旋律 as something that can be played on an instrument.
• Example 9:
  • 这首爵士乐的旋律听起来自由即兴，但实际上结构非常严谨。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu juéshìyuè de xuánlǜ tīng qǐlái zìyóu jíxìng, dàn shíjìshang jiégòu fēicháng yánjǐn.
  • English: The melody of this jazz piece sounds free and improvised, but in reality, its structure is very rigorous.
  • Analysis: Used in a more sophisticated musical discussion, contrasting the feeling of a melody with its underlying structure.
• Example 10:
  • 歌手的嗓音很美，可惜这首歌的旋律配不上他的声音。
  • Pinyin: Gēshǒu de sǎngyīn hěn měi, kěxī zhè shǒu gē de xuánlǜ pèibushàng tā de shēngyīn.
  • English: The singer's voice is beautiful, it's a pity the song's melody doesn't match his voice.
  • Analysis: Another critical example, suggesting the melody is not good enough for the performer. 配不上 (pèibushàng) means “not worthy of” or “doesn't match up to.”

The most common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 旋律 (xuánlǜ) from 节奏 (jiézòu).

• 旋律 (xuánlǜ) vs. 节奏 (jiézòu) - Melody vs. Rhythm
  • 旋律 (xuánlǜ) is the sequence of high and low notes (the pitch). It's the part you can sing.
  • 节奏 (jiézòu) is the pattern of timing and duration of the notes. It's the beat or the pulse. It's the part you clap or tap your foot to.
  • Simple Analogy: In “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” the tune that goes up and down is the 旋律. The “ta-ta, ta-ta, ta-ta, ta” pattern of the notes is the 节奏.
• Incorrect Usage: `这首歌的旋律很快。` (Zhè shǒu gē de xuánlǜ hěn kuài.)
• Why it's awkward: While a native speaker might understand you, melodies themselves aren't “fast” or “slow”—the tempo and rhythm are. It's much more precise and natural to say:
• Correct Usage: `这首歌的节奏很快。` (Zhè shǒu gē de jiézòu hěn kuài.) - This song's rhythm is very fast.
• 旋律 (xuánlǜ) vs. 曲调 (qǔdiào) - Melody vs. Tune
  • These two words are very close synonyms. For a beginner, they are often interchangeable.
  • 旋律 (xuánlǜ) is slightly more formal and technical. It's the preferred term when analyzing music.
  • 曲调 (qǔdiào) is a bit more colloquial, closer to the English word “tune.” You might say a folk song has a nice 曲调. In most daily conversations, either is acceptable.

• 节奏 (jiézòu) - Rhythm. The essential counterpart to melody, dealing with the timing and beat of music.
• 歌曲 (gēqǔ) - Song. A complete musical piece, typically combining a 旋律 with lyrics and rhythm.
• 音乐 (yīnyuè) - Music. The overarching art form to which 旋律 belongs.
• 歌词 (gēcí) - Lyrics. The words of a song, sung to the 旋律.
• 和声 (héshēng) - Harmony. The combination of different notes played or sung simultaneously to accompany the 旋律.
• 曲调 (qǔdiào) - Tune. A very close synonym for 旋律, often used more informally.
• 作曲 (zuòqǔ) - To compose music. The act of creating a 旋律 and other musical elements.
• 乐器 (yuèqì) - Musical instrument. The tool used to perform a 旋律.
• 优美 (yōuměi) - Graceful / Beautiful. A very common adjective used to describe a good 旋律.
• 上口 (shàngkǒu) - Catchy / Easy to recite. Used to describe a 旋律 or lyrics that are easy to remember and sing along to.