Definition

1. Noun:
   • A zither-like stringed instrument: A traditional Vietnamese musical instrument, historically referred to in classical or poetic contexts, often with five or seven strings, similar to the Chinese guqin or a type of lute.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong thơ cổ, tiếng đàn cầm thường gợi lên sự thanh cao. (In ancient poetry, the sound of the đàn cầm often evokes a sense of nobility and refinement.)
  • Ông cụ chơi đàn cầm rất điêu luyện. (The old man plays the đàn cầm with great skill.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "đàn cầm" is considered somewhat archaic or literary in modern Vietnamese. In contemporary contexts, more specific instrument names like (16-string zither) or (two-string moon lute) are more commonly used.

Variants and Related Words

• Đàn tranh (n): A Vietnamese 16-string plucked zither.
• Đàn nguyệt (n): A Vietnamese two-string moon lute.
• Đàn tỳ bà (n): A Vietnamese four-string pear-shaped lute.
• Guqin (n): The Chinese seven-string zither, which is the direct cultural and historical relative of the .

Synonyms

• Zither: A general term for a family of stringed instruments with strings stretched over a flat body.
• Lute: A general term for a plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back. (Note: The reference to "luth" in the source indicates this historical classification.)

Related Idioms

• While there are no direct idioms with "đàn cầm", it frequently appears in classical literary phrases and poetry to symbolize elegance, scholarly pursuit, and melancholic beauty.