Definition

Noun: * Piano: A large musical instrument with a keyboard, where sound is produced by hammers striking strings when the keys are pressed. The word "dương cầm" is a Sino-Vietnamese term (陽琴), where "dương" (陽) means "sun" or "Western" and "cầm" (琴) means "stringed instrument," thus historically referring to a Western stringed instrument.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cô ấy chơi dương cầm rất hay. (She plays the piano very well.)
  • Trong phòng khách có một cây dương cầm. (There is a piano in the living room.)
  • Bản nhạc được biểu diễn bằng dương cầm. (The piece was performed on the piano.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "dương cầm" is considered more formal and literary in modern Vietnamese. In everyday conversation, the borrowed word "piano" (pronounced /pi-a-nô/) is more commonly used.
  • Văn học: Tiếng dương cầm du dương vang lên trong đêm. (Literature: The melodious sound of the piano rose in the night.)
  • Giao tiếp thông thường: Tôi đang học đánh piano. (Casual conversation: I am learning to play the piano.)

Variants and Related Words

• Piano (noun): The modern, commonly used term for the instrument. It is a direct loanword.
• Dương cầm điện / Piano điện (noun): Electric piano.
• Dương cầm grand / Đàn piano grand (noun): Grand piano.
• Dương cầm upright / Đàn piano upright (noun): Upright piano.
• Nghệ sĩ dương cầm / Nghệ sĩ piano (noun): Pianist.

Synonyms

• Đàn piano: The most direct and common synonym, using the native word "đàn" (instrument) with the loanword "piano".

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word "dương cầm" specifically refers to the modern piano. It should not be confused with other keyboard or string instruments like the harpsichord (clavecin) or the Vietnamese monochord (đàn bầu). Its meaning is fixed to the piano.

noun

1. piano