龠 (yuè) - Yue — an ancient Chinese wind instrument, similar & also refers to an ancient unit of volume

龠Tone 4

yuè ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

龠 · yuè

Yue — an ancient Chinese wind instrument, similar to a panpipe or flute;

also refers to an ancient unit of volume measurement.

Yue — an ancient Chinese wind instrument, similaralso refers to an ancient unit of volume

Usage highlights

Ancient fluteBlow the yueYue of grainYue danceYue masterBamboo yue

Synonyms

  • 管— pipe, tube (as a wind instrument)
  • 笛— flute (modern wind instrument)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He plays the ancient yue instrument (吹龠).
  • This ancient text mentions a yue of grain (一龠谷物).
  • The character appears in oracle bone inscriptions (甲骨文中的龠字).
  • Traditional Chinese music includes the yue (传统音乐中的龠).

Collocations

  • Ancient flute(古龠)
  • Blow the yue(吹龠)
  • Yue of grain(一龠谷物)
  • Yue dance(龠舞)
  • Yue master(龠师)
  • Bamboo yue(竹龠)

Idioms

  • Blowing the yue and dancing with feathers(吹龠舞羽)
  • The yue and flute harmonize together(龠笛和鸣)
  • Measuring with yue and dou(以龠量斗)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the oldest Chinese wind instruments, dating back to the Shang Dynasty.
  • Appears in oracle bone inscriptions as a pictograph of bundled bamboo pipes.
  • Also used as an ancient unit of volume in the measurement system.
  • Associated with ancient court music and ritual ceremonies.

FAQ