Dizi
The dizi in five languages: European languages use the Chinese name; a side-blown bamboo flute with a membrane
Related
Five languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 笛子（竹笛） |
| English | dizi |
| Italian | — |
| German | — |
| French | — |
The dizi is China's side-blown bamboo flute. Its tube has finger holes and a membrane hole covered with dimo, a thin membrane made from reed inner skin, which gives the sound its characteristic bright buzz. The higher bangdi and lower qudi are the common types, used in opera, folk wind bands, ensembles and solo music.
Watch out: the dizi is side-blown and the xiao is end-blown; they are different instruments, though English often calls both "flute". The membrane and the transverse hold define the dizi, while the xiao has no membrane hole. Italian, German and French have no established native name and use dizi.
Read deeper → Dizi
Sources
- 名称与形制，参《中国音乐词典》与 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Dizi"；译名参通行音乐术语词典；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.