(ōu) - To sing & to chant

Tone 1

ōu | 6 strokes | radical: 讠

· ōu

To sing;

to chant;

a folk song or ballad;

to praise in song.

To singto chanta folk song or ballad

Usage highlights

To sing praisesFolk songTo chant poetryTo eulogizeBallad singerTo sing of virtue

Synonyms

  • to sing; song
  • to sing; to chant
  • to praise; to eulogize

Antonyms

  • to scold; to curse
  • to denounce; to reprimand

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He sang a folk song (讴歌).
  • The villagers sang the praises of their hero (讴颂).
  • She performed a beautiful melody (讴吟).
  • The poet composed verses to celebrate the harvest (讴谣).

Collocations

  • To sing praises(讴歌)
  • Folk song(讴谣)
  • To chant poetry(讴吟)
  • To eulogize(讴颂)
  • Ballad singer(讴者)
  • To sing of virtue(讴德)

Idioms

  • To sing the praises of(讴功颂德)
  • Street songs and alley chants(街讴巷咏)
  • To chant and sing(讴吟讴歌)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to folk songs and ballads, often expressing the lives and emotions of common people.
  • In classical Chinese literature, '讴' was used for spontaneous singing or chanting, distinct from formal musical compositions.
  • The character embodies the tradition of oral poetry and folk music in Chinese culture.

FAQ