zau3 ming4 kuk1奏鳴曲奏鸣曲
Jyutpingzau3 ming4 kuk1
Yalejau mìhng kūk
Definition
Sonata; an instrumental musical composition, usually for a solo instrument or small ensemble.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers specifically to a formal Western classical music structure rather than general instrumental music. It is almost exclusively encountered in academic, professional, or high-brow artistic contexts. You will rarely hear this term used in casual daily conversation unless discussing classical music performances or music theory.
Measure word
sau2首sáuExamples
He will perform a Beethoven sonata tonight.
Have you heard this piano sonata yet?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe any instrumental piece. It is a technical term for a specific musical form with distinct movements, not a synonym for instrumental music in general.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
