lưu thuỷ
Definition
- Noun:
- A flowing stream: The literal meaning refers to flowing water, a running stream, or the continuous movement of liquid.
- An ancient musical air: The primary classical meaning refers to the name of a specific, ancient piece of traditional Vietnamese instrumental music, often for the đàn tranh (zither), designed to imitate the sound and rhythm of flowing water.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Tiếng đàn nghe như lưu thuỷ. (The zither music sounds like flowing water.)
- Bản "Lưu Thuỷ" là một khúc nhạc cổ nổi tiếng. ("Lưu Thuỷ" is a famous ancient musical piece.)
Advanced Usage
- In classical music theory, "Lưu Thuỷ" is often one of the fundamental pieces in the repertoire, representing fluidity and natural flow. It can be played in different modes and tempos.
Variants and Related Words
- Lưu thuỷ hành vân: An idiom meaning "flowing water, moving clouds," used to describe something with natural, effortless grace, often in calligraphy or dance.
- Nét chữ của ông ấy như lưu thuỷ hành vân. (His calligraphy strokes are like flowing water and moving clouds.)
Synonyms
- Flowing water: The literal element being imitated.
- Musical piece: A composition of music.
- Stream: A small, flowing body of water.
Related Idioms
- Lưu thuỷ hành vân: As above, this four-character idiom extends from the musical term to describe smooth, fluent, and graceful movement or artistry.