====== gēqǔ: 歌曲 - Song, Tune ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 歌曲, gēqǔ, Chinese word for song, what does gequ mean, song in Mandarin Chinese, Chinese music, Mandopop, C-pop, KTV songs, 歌 vs 歌曲, 音乐 vs 歌曲
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **歌曲 (gēqǔ)**, the fundamental Chinese word for 'song'. This complete guide for beginners explains its character origins, its central role in Chinese culture from KTV to C-pop, and provides practical example sentences. Learn the crucial difference between **歌曲 (gēqǔ)**, **歌 (gē)**, and **音乐 (yīnyuè)** to talk about Chinese music like a native speaker.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** gēqǔ
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  * **Concise Definition:** A musical composition with lyrics; a song.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **歌曲 (gēqǔ)** is the standard and slightly formal word for a "song"—a complete piece that combines both lyrics and a melody. It's the word you would see on a music app like QQ Music or NetEase Cloud Music to label a track, or when discussing a specific song as a work of art.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **歌 (gē):** This character means "to sing" or "song." It's composed of two parts. The left side, 哥 (gē), meaning "older brother," provides the sound. The right side, 欠 (qiàn), depicts a person with an open mouth, representing the act of singing.
  * **曲 (qǔ):** This character means "melody," "tune," or "curve." The character itself is a pictogram of a bent or crooked object. In a musical context, it refers to the "curves" and flow of a melody.
When combined, **歌曲 (gēqǔ)** literally means "singing-melody," which perfectly describes a complete song with both vocals and a tune.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, music and singing are deeply integrated into social life, and **歌曲 (gēqǔ)** is the vehicle for this expression. Unlike in the West where concerts are the primary live music experience, in China, KTV (Karaoke) is a cornerstone of social bonding. Friends, family, and colleagues regularly go to KTV to sing their favorite **歌曲** together, using it to build relationships and release stress.
The term **歌曲** is also central to the massive C-pop (or Mandopop) industry. Fans discuss their favorite singers' new **歌曲**, and chart-topping hits become part of the national conversation.
While the English word "song" is a very close equivalent, **歌曲 (gēqǔ)** feels slightly more formal and complete than its more casual counterpart, **歌 (gē)**. Think of **歌曲** as a "track" or "composition," while **歌** is simply a "song." Furthermore, **歌曲** specifically implies that there are lyrics, distinguishing it from purely instrumental pieces, which would fall under the broader category of **音乐 (yīnyuè)**, or "music."
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**歌曲 (gēqǔ)** is a common, neutral term used in a wide variety of contexts.
  * **In Daily Conversation:** People use it to talk about music they like. "我最近喜欢听一首老**歌曲**。" (I've been enjoying an old song recently.)
  * **On Music Platforms:** All Chinese music apps (e.g., QQ音乐, 网易云音乐) use **歌曲** to label individual tracks. You'll see menus like "推荐歌曲" (Recommended Songs) or "歌曲排行" (Song Charts).
  * **At KTV:** While people might casually say "我们唱个歌吧" (Let's sing a song), they would select a specific **歌曲** from the machine's menu.
  * **Formal Contexts:** In music reviews, news articles, or academic discussions, **歌曲** is the preferred term to refer to a song as a complete artistic work.
The term is almost always neutral in connotation, but it can be modified with adjectives to express feelings, such as "悲伤的歌曲" (a sad song) or "欢快的歌曲" (a cheerful song).
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 这首**歌曲**的旋律很好听。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shǒu **gēqǔ** de xuánlǜ hěn hǎotīng.
    * English: The melody of this song is very beautiful.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the use of the correct measure word for songs, **首 (shǒu)**. It's a common way to describe a song's musical quality.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你最喜欢的**歌曲**是哪一首？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ zuì xǐhuān de **gēqǔ** shì nǎ yī shǒu?
    * English: What is your favorite song?
    * Analysis: A classic question for getting to know someone's musical taste. Notice again the use of **首 (shǒu)** in the question.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 这位歌手发布了一首新**歌曲**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè wèi gēshǒu fābù le yī shǒu xīn **gēqǔ**.
    * English: This singer released a new song.
    * Analysis: This shows how **歌曲** is used in the context of the music industry. **发布 (fābù)** means "to release" or "to publish."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 我把这首**歌曲**添加到了我的播放列表。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ zhè shǒu **gēqǔ** tiānjiā dào le wǒ de bōfàng lièbiǎo.
    * English: I added this song to my playlist.
    * Analysis: A very practical sentence for modern life, using the 把 (bǎ) structure to show the disposal of an object (the song).
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这是一首经典的中文流行**歌曲**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yī shǒu jīngdiǎn de Zhōngwén liúxíng **gēqǔ**.
    * English: This is a classic Chinese pop song.
    * Analysis: This example shows how **歌曲** can be modified by genre, in this case, **流行 (liúxíng)** for "pop."
  * **Example 6:**
    * 卡拉OK里有很多老**歌曲**可以选择。
    * Pinyin: Kǎlā'ōukēi lǐ yǒu hěnduō lǎo **gēqǔ** kěyǐ xuǎnzé.
    * English: There are many old songs to choose from at Karaoke.
    * Analysis: This sentence directly links **歌曲** to the popular social activity of KTV/Karaoke.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 每当我听到这首**歌曲**，我就会想起我的童年。
    * Pinyin: Měi dāng wǒ tīngdào zhè shǒu **gēqǔ**, wǒ jiù huì xiǎngqǐ wǒ de tóngnián.
    * English: Every time I hear this song, I think of my childhood.
    * Analysis: Demonstrates how a **歌曲** can be tied to memory and emotion.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这首**歌曲**的歌词写得非常有诗意。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shǒu **gēqǔ** de gēcí xiě de fēicháng yǒu shīyì.
    * English: The lyrics of this song are written very poetically.
    * Analysis: This sentence distinguishes between the song as a whole (**歌曲**) and its specific components, like the **歌词 (gēcí)**, or lyrics.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 这部电影的主题**歌曲**非常有名。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de zhǔtí **gēqǔ** fēicháng yǒumíng.
    * English: The theme song of this movie is very famous.
    * Analysis: Shows the term used for a specific type of song, a **主题歌曲 (zhǔtí gēqǔ)** or "theme song."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他为他的女朋友写了一首**歌曲**。
    * Pinyin: Tā wèi tā de nǚpéngyǒu xiě le yī shǒu **gēqǔ**.
    * English: He wrote a song for his girlfriend.
    * Analysis: A simple, common scenario showing the creation of a **歌曲**.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The biggest challenge for learners is distinguishing **歌曲 (gēqǔ)** from similar-sounding words.
  * **歌曲 (gēqǔ) vs. 歌 (gē):**
    * **歌曲 (gēqǔ)** is a complete musical work (lyrics + melody). It's slightly more formal and is the technically correct term for a "track" on an album.
    * **歌 (gē)** is more casual and versatile. It can mean "song" in a simple sense, or it can refer to the act of singing itself. For example, "to sing a song" is **唱歌 (chàng gē)**, not **唱歌曲 (chàng gēqǔ)**.
    * **Mistake:** Saying "我想唱一个歌曲" (I want to sing a song).
    * **Correction:** "我想唱一首歌" (I want to sing a song) is much more natural.
  * **歌曲 (gēqǔ) vs. 音乐 (yīnyuè):**
    * **歌曲 (gēqǔ)** specifically means a *song*, which implies vocals/lyrics.
    * **音乐 (yīnyuè)** means *music* in general. It's a broad category that includes songs, classical symphonies, instrumental jazz, film scores, etc.
    * **Mistake:** Pointing to a pop song and saying "我喜欢这个音乐" (I like this music). While not grammatically wrong, it's imprecise. It's like saying "I like this piece of music" when you really just mean "I like this song."
    * **Correction:** For a specific song with lyrics, it's better to say "我喜欢这首**歌曲**" (I like this song).
  * **Forgetting the Measure Word:**
    * The correct measure word for **歌曲** is **首 (shǒu)**.
    * **Mistake:** 我听了一个**歌曲**。 (Wǒ tīng le yí ge **gēqǔ**.)
    * **Correction:** 我听了一首**歌曲**。 (Wǒ tīng le yī shǒu **gēqǔ**.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[歌]] (gē) - A more casual word for "song"; also refers to the act of singing.
  * [[音乐]] (yīnyuè) - Music in general, including both vocal and instrumental pieces. **歌曲** is a type of **音乐**.
  * [[歌词]] (gēcí) - Lyrics; the words of a **歌曲**.
  * [[歌手]] (gēshǒu) - Singer; the person who performs a **歌曲**.
  * [[旋律]] (xuánlǜ) - Melody, tune; the musical part of a **歌曲**.
  * [[专辑]] (zhuānjí) - Album; a collection of **歌曲**.
  * [[流行歌曲]] (liúxíng gēqǔ) - Pop song; a very common genre.
  * [[一首歌]] (yì shǒu gē) - "A song." The most common way to refer to a single song in conversation, using the correct measure word.
  * [[卡拉OK]] (kǎlā'ōukēi) - Karaoke (or KTV); a popular social activity centered around singing **歌曲**.