笳 (jiā) - A reed instrument & specifically refers to the jia, an ancient Chinese

笳Tone 1

jiā ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

佳嘉

笳 · jiā

A reed instrument;

specifically refers to the jia, an ancient Chinese reed instrument similar to a flute or pipe, historically used by northern nomadic peoples.

A reed instrumentspecifically refers to the jia, an ancient Chinese

Usage highlights

Jia fluteJia soundHu jiaJia melodyJia and drumJia music

Synonyms

  • 笛— flute (general term for wind instruments)
  • 管— pipe (general term for wind instruments)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The musician played the jia (笳) beautifully.
  • Ancient nomadic tribes used the jia (笳) in their music.
  • The sound of the jia (笳) echoed across the plains.
  • He composed a piece featuring the jia (笳).

Collocations

  • Jia flute(笳笛)
  • Jia sound(笳声)
  • Hu jia(胡笳 - barbarian jia)
  • Jia melody(笳曲)
  • Jia and drum(笳鼓)
  • Jia music(笳乐)

Idioms

  • Hu Jia Eighteen Beats(胡笳十八拍)
  • Jia sound urging the dawn(笳声催晓)
  • Jia and drum in the frontier(边笳戍鼓)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The jia was originally a reed instrument used by northern nomadic peoples, later adopted into Chinese court and military music.
  • It was particularly associated with frontier life and military campaigns, often used to signal troops or mark time.
  • The instrument features prominently in the famous poem and musical composition 'Hu Jia Eighteen Beats' (胡笳十八拍).

FAQ