đánh đàn
Definition
- Verb:
- To play a stringed musical instrument: The primary meaning of "đánh đàn" is to perform music on an instrument with strings, such as a guitar, violin, or traditional Vietnamese đàn tranh (zither). It focuses on the act of producing sound from the strings.
- To play music (in a broader, colloquial sense): Informally, it can sometimes be used more generally for playing music, though it retains a strong association with string instruments.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy đánh đàn guitar rất hay. (She plays the guitar very well.)
- Tối nay anh ấy sẽ đánh đàn piano trong buổi hòa nhạc. (Tonight he will play the piano in the concert.)
- Họ ngồi đánh đàn và hát cùng nhau. (They sat playing (string) instruments and singing together.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be specified by adding the instrument's name, e.g., "đánh đàn piano," "đánh đàn violin."
- In very specific, dated slang (as noted in some references), "đánh đàn" could historically imply a group gathering for merrymaking or revelry, but this usage is now extremely rare and not standard in modern Vietnamese.
Variants and Related Words
- Chơi đàn (v): A more general synonym for "to play an instrument." "Chơi đàn" and "đánh đàn" are often interchangeable for string instruments, but "chơi" can be used for wind or percussion instruments as well (e.g., - to play a wind instrument).
- Đánh nhạc (v): To play music (often recorded or from a score).
- Biểu diễn (v): To perform (music, on stage).
Synonyms
- Play an instrument: The general act of performing on a musical device.
- Strum or pluck: Specific actions for playing many stringed instruments.
Related Idioms
- Đánh đàn gảy tai trâu: Literally "to play music for a buffalo's ears," meaning to do something refined for an unappreciative audience; casting pearls before swine.
- Giải thích cho họ cũng như đánh đàn gảy tai trâu. (Explaining to them is like casting pearls before swine.)