说唱
shuo chang
To rap in Chinese is to use the term 说唱 (shuo chang).
The term 说唱 refers to the act of speaking lyrics in the style of rap music. While it functions as a verb, it is also frequently used as a noun to refer to the genre of rap music itself.
Meaning: to speak lyrics in the style of rap music (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 说唱 is a compound of two parts: 说 (shuō), meaning 'to speak' and 唱 (chàng), meaning 'to sing'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a person who performs rap, known as a 'rapper', you add 歌手 (gēshǒu), meaning 'singer', to the end of the word to form 说唱歌手.
How do you pronounce it?
shuo chang
Did you know?
- Because the Chinese language is tonal, 说唱 artists must often creatively bend the natural tones of words to fit the beat without losing the word's meaning.
- Although 说唱 is the modern term for rap, the concept of rhythmic spoken-word performance dates back to ancient Chinese 说唱文学, which combined storytelling and singing in folk art.
- In China, rap music is often called 嘻哈 (xīhā), which is a phonetic transliteration of the English word 'hip hop' rather than a translation of the meaning.
Examples in context
- 你喜欢说唱音乐吗？Do you like rap?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's preference for 说唱.Tatoeba #1776572 by sadhen, translation #2310 by CK
- 他在舞台上表演了一首精彩的说唱曲目。He performed an amazing rap song on stage.
- 我喜欢这个饶舌歌手的音乐风格。I enjoy this rap artist's musical style.
- 他在台上说唱。Tā zài táishàng shuōchàng.He is rapping on the stage.
- 我想练习说唱。Wǒ xiǎng liànxí shuōchàng.I want to practice rapping.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a talent show.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，你会说唱吗？Hàorán, nǐ huì shuōchàng ma?Haoran, can you rap?
- 浩然 Haoran我会一点，但我不专业。Wǒ huì yīdiǎn, dàn wǒ bù zhuānyè.I can a little, but I'm not a professional.
- 雨婷 Yuting那你能在演出时说唱吗？Nà nǐ néng zài yǎnchū shí shuōchàng ma?Then can you rap during the show?
- 浩然 Haoran好的，我愿意尝试。Hǎo de, wǒ yuànyì chángshì.Okay, I'm willing to try.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
