歌

gē: 歌 - Song, to Sing

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: gē, 歌, song in Chinese, sing in Chinese, chàng gē, Chinese music, KTV, lyrics in Chinese, Chinese singer, 歌手, 歌曲, pinyin for song
  • Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 歌 (gē), which means both “song” and is the key component in the verb “to sing.” This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, cultural significance in China (especially regarding KTV), and practical usage. With over 10 example sentences, a character breakdown, and analysis of common mistakes, you'll master how to talk about music, songs, and singing in Mandarin Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): gē
  • Part of Speech: Noun / Verb Component
  • HSK Level: HSK 1 (as part of the word 唱歌 chàng gē)
  • Concise Definition: A piece of music with words that is sung; the act of singing.
  • In a Nutshell: 歌 (gē) is the Chinese word for “song.” Think of it as the noun, the thing you listen to. While it can stand alone as a noun, it's most frequently seen combined with the verb 唱 (chàng) to form 唱歌 (chàng gē), the standard way to say “to sing.” Understanding that 歌 (gē) is the *object* (the song) that you *act upon* (sing) is key to using it correctly.

Character Breakdown

  • The character 歌 (gē) is a phonetic-semantic compound, meaning one part gives the sound and the other gives the meaning.
  • 哥 (gē): This character means “older brother” and provides the phonetic sound for 歌. Their pronunciation is identical.
  • 欠 (qiàn): This radical depicts a person with their mouth wide open. It signifies actions related to the mouth, such as yawning, breathing, or, in this case, singing.
  • By combining the sound of 哥 (gē) with the image of an open mouth 欠 (qiàn), the character 歌 (gē) vividly represents the act of singing a song.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In China, singing is far more than just a hobby; it's a cornerstone of social life. The most prominent example is KTV (Karaoke), which is a primary activity for friends, family gatherings, and even business meetings.
  • Comparison to Western Culture: While karaoke in the West is often a public performance at a bar, KTV in China is typically a private affair. Groups rent a room for several hours, equipped with a large screen, microphones, and an extensive song catalog. It's a space to relax, bond, and build connections in a less formal setting than a dinner table. For businesspeople, a KTV session after a meal is a common way to build 关系 (guānxi), or personal rapport, which is crucial for professional success.
  • Related Values: This practice reflects the Chinese cultural value of collectivism and 和谐 (héxié), or harmony. Singing together, regardless of skill level, is a shared group experience that strengthens bonds and creates a harmonious atmosphere. It's not about individual performance but about collective enjoyment.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • As a Noun (“song”): When used as a noun, 歌 (gē) almost always requires a measure word, which is 首 (shǒu).
    • `一首歌 (yì shǒu gē)` - one song
    • `这首歌 (zhè shǒu gē)` - this song
  • As a Verb Component (“to sing”): The most common verb for “to sing” is the verb-object compound 唱歌 (chàng gē), which literally means “sing a song.” This is the default term you should use when talking about the action of singing.
  • In Compound Words: 歌 (gē) is a building block for many music-related terms:
    • `歌手 (gēshǒu)` - singer
    • `歌词 (gēcí)` - lyrics
    • `歌曲 (gēqǔ)` - song (a slightly more formal term)
    • `歌剧 (gējù)` - opera

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 这首歌很好听。
    • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gē hěn hǎo tīng.
    • English: This song is very nice to listen to.
    • Analysis: A classic example of 歌 (gē) used as a noun with its measure word 首 (shǒu). `好听 (hǎo tīng)` is the standard way to say a song “sounds good”.
  • Example 2:
    • 你喜欢唱歌吗？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ xǐhuān chàng gē ma?
    • English: Do you like to sing?
    • Analysis: Here, 歌 (gē) is part of the verb 唱歌 (chàng gē). This is a very common question to ask when getting to know someone.
  • Example 3:
    • 周末我们去唱歌吧！
    • Pinyin: Zhōumò wǒmen qù chàng gē ba!
    • English: Let's go sing karaoke this weekend!
    • Analysis: In modern China, `去唱歌 (qù chàng gē)` is almost always an invitation to go to KTV. This is a very common social invitation.
  • Example 4:
    • 他是一位非常有名的歌手。
    • Pinyin: Tā shì yī wèi fēicháng yǒumíng de gēshǒu.
    • English: He is a very famous singer.
    • Analysis: This shows 歌 (gē) as part of the compound word `歌手 (gēshǒu)`, meaning “singer.” The measure word for people in a profession is `位 (wèi)`.
  • Example 5:
    • 我不记得这首歌的歌词了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ bù jìde zhè shǒu gē de gēcí le.
    • English: I don't remember the lyrics to this song anymore.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses both 歌 (gē) as “song” and as part of the word `歌词 (gēcí)`, “lyrics”.
  • Example 6:
    • 这首歌让我想起了我的家乡。
    • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gē ràng wǒ xiǎngqǐle wǒ de jiāxiāng.
    • English: This song reminds me of my hometown.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates how to express that a song evokes a memory or feeling, using the pattern `让 (ràng) + someone + verb`.
  • Example 7:
    • 她的歌声非常优美。
    • Pinyin: Tā de gēshēng fēicháng yōuměi.
    • English: Her singing voice is exceptionally beautiful.
    • Analysis: 歌声 (gēshēng) literally means “song sound” and is the specific word for “singing voice.”
  • Example 8:
    • 老师在课堂上教我们唱了一首中文歌。
    • Pinyin: Lǎoshī zài kètáng shàng jiāo wǒmen chàngle yī shǒu Zhōngwén gē.
    • English: The teacher taught us to sing a Chinese song in class.
    • Analysis: A good example of sentence structure: `教 (jiāo) + someone + verb + object`. It shows the action of singing (`唱`) a specific object (`一首中文歌`).
  • Example 9:
    • 你会唱中国的国歌吗？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ huì chàng Zhōngguó de guógē ma?
    • English: Can you sing China's national anthem?
    • Analysis: Introduces the word `国歌 (guógē)`, or “national anthem” (country's song). The verb `会 (huì)` here means “to know how to” or “can.”
  • Example 10:
    • 这张专辑里的每一首歌我都喜欢。
    • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhuānjí lǐ de měi yī shǒu gē wǒ dōu xǐhuān.
    • English: I like every single song on this album.
    • Analysis: A slightly more complex sentence showing how to say “every song.” `张 (zhāng)` is the measure word for flat objects like CDs or albums (`专辑 zhuānjí`).

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `唱 (chàng)` vs. `唱歌 (chàng gē)` vs. `歌 (gē)`: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
    • 歌 (gē): The noun. It's the “song” itself.
    • 唱 (chàng): The verb. It's the action of “singing.” You need to sing *something*.
    • 唱歌 (chàng gē): The default phrase for “to sing.” It's a verb-object phrase that functions as a single verb in most contexts.
    • Common Mistake: Saying `我喜欢歌` to mean “I like to sing.”
      • Incorrect: `我喜欢歌。` (Wǒ xǐhuān gē.) This sounds unnatural, like saying “I like song.”
      • Correct: `我喜欢唱歌。` (Wǒ xǐhuān chàng gē.) - “I like to sing.”
      • Correct: `我喜欢这首歌。` (Wǒ xǐhuān zhè shǒu gē.) - “I like this song.”
  • Forgetting the Measure Word `首 (shǒu)`: In English, we can say “I heard a song.” In Chinese, you must include the measure word.
    • Incorrect: `我听一个歌。` (Wǒ tīng yī gè gē.) - `个 (gè)` is the general-purpose measure word, but it's incorrect here.
    • Correct: `我听一首歌。` (Wǒ tīng yī shǒu gē.)

Related Terms and Concepts

  • `唱歌 (chàng gē)` - The most common verb phrase for “to sing.”
  • `歌曲 (gēqǔ)` - A more formal term for “song” or “melody,” often used in written or broadcast contexts.
  • `歌手 (gēshǒu)` - A singer or vocalist.
  • `歌词 (gēcí)` - The lyrics of a song.
  • `音乐 (yīnyuè)` - Music; the broader category that songs fall into.
  • `听 (tīng)` - To listen; the verb you use to say you're listening to a song (`听歌 tīng gē`).
  • `首 (shǒu)` - The primary measure word for songs and poems.
  • `卡拉OK (kǎlā'ōukèi)` - The full transliteration of “Karaoke,” often referred to as KTV.
  • `流行歌曲 (liúxíng gēqǔ)` - Pop song.
  • `国歌 (guógē)` - National anthem.