siu2 diu6小調小调
Jyutpingsiu2 diu6
Yalesíu diuh
Definition
Minor key in Western music; also refers to a short, simple song or ditty.
- technicalminor key in Western music
- a simple song; ditty; folk tune
neutralother
How it's used
Used primarily in musical contexts to describe the tonality of a piece. It contrasts directly with 大調, which is typically associated with brighter or happier moods. While it can describe the technical key of a song, it is also frequently used to describe the emotional atmosphere of a melody.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
How does this minor key passage sound to you?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 小調 which can refer to traditional folk songs or ditties. In a Cantonese context, it is almost exclusively used for Western music theory.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
