Yueqin (Moon Lute)
The yueqin, or moon lute, in five languages — yueqin, Mondlaute, luth-lune
Related
Five languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 月琴 |
| English | yueqin (moon lute) |
| Italian | — (no settled term; yueqin is borrowed) |
| German | Yueqin / Mondlaute |
| French | yueqin / luth-lune |
The yueqin is a Chinese plucked instrument with a round or octagonal soundbox, a short neck and four strings, played with a plectrum or finger picks. English usually keeps yueqin and glosses it as "moon lute"; German Mondlaute and French luth-lune preserve the moon image. Italian has no settled term, and specialist writing generally borrows yueqin (a common practice).
Watch out: the yueqin belongs with the ruan and pipa among Chinese plucked strings, but its short neck and round body give it a brighter tone; it is not another name for the European lute, and the shared character 琴 does not make them the same instrument.
Read deeper → Yueqin (moon lute)
Sources
- 各语种乐器名与形制，参《中国音乐词典》（人民音乐出版社）及 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Yueqin"；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.