What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the verb 弹 (tán), which means to pluck or play a stringed instrument and the noun 钢琴 (gāngqín), which means piano. The word 钢琴 is literally a 'steel instrument', composed of 钢 (steel) and 琴 (musical instrument).
Which one should you use?
While 弹钢琴 is the standard way to say 'play piano', other forms exist depending on the context. 演奏钢琴 (yǎnzòu gāngqín) and 弹奏钢琴 (tánzòu gāngqín) focus more on the act of performing music, whereas 弹个钢琴 (tán gè gāngqín) is a casual way to say 'play a bit of piano'. Finally, 捣鼓钢琴 (dǎogǔ gāngqín) is a very informal way to say 'fiddle with' or 'tinker with' the piano.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the phrase for play piano is 彈鋼琴.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase follows a Verb-Object structure, where 弹 is the action and 钢琴 is the object.
How do you pronounce it?
tán gāngqín
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the verb 打 (dǎ, to hit or strike) in the phrase 打钢琴, as English speakers sometimes mistakenly use 'hit' instead of the correct verb for playing stringed instruments. Use 弹 instead.
Did you know?
- Because 琴 (qín) is a general term for stringed instruments, Chinese uses different verbs for different 'qín'. You 弹 (tán) a piano, but you 拉 (lā), meaning 'to pull', a 二胡 (èrhu) or a violin.
- The verb 弹 (tán) also means 'to flick' or 'to snap', as in flicking a pebble or snapping a rubber band. This describes the fingertip action used for both plucking strings and pressing piano keys.
- While 钢琴 (gāngqín) means 'steel instrument', the word 琴 (qín) originally referred specifically to the 古琴 (gǔqín), a seven-stringed zither that was a symbol of the scholar-official class in ancient China.
Examples in context
- 我会弹钢琴。I can play piano.This sentence is useful for expressing the ability to play piano using 弹钢琴.Tatoeba #352044 by fucongcong, translation #8466377 by moarplease
- 我喜欢弹钢琴I enjoy playing the piano
- 我弹钢琴已经很多年了I have been playing the piano for many years
- 她每天都弹钢琴。Tā měitiān dōu tán gāngqín.She plays the piano every day.
- 我想学弹钢琴。Wǒ xiǎng xué tán gāngqín.I want to learn to play the piano.
Example conversation
At a music school after a lesson.
- 俊杰 Junjie梓涵，你会弹钢琴吗？Zǐhán, nǐ huì tán gāngqín ma?Zihan, can you play the piano?
- 梓涵 Zihan我会一点点，俊杰呢？Wǒ huì yī diǎndiǎn, Jùnjié ne?I can play a little, what about you, Junjie?
- 俊杰 Junjie我不会，但我很喜欢听。Wǒ bú huì, dàn wǒ hěn xǐhuan tīng.I can't, but I love listening to it.
- 梓涵 Zihan那下次我弹给你听。Nà xiàcì wǒ tán gěi nǐ tīng.Then next time I will play it for you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
