chàng gē: 唱歌 - To Sing, Singing

• Keywords: changge, 唱歌, learn Chinese, sing in Chinese, KTV in China, Chinese word for sing, what is changge, Chinese music, karaoke in China, Chinese verb for singing
• Summary: Learn how to use “唱歌” (chàng gē), the essential Chinese word for “to sing.” This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, character breakdown, and practical usage. Discover why 唱歌 is more than just an action—it's a cornerstone of modern Chinese social life, from casual get-togethers to business events at KTV (karaoke). Master example sentences and avoid common mistakes to talk about music and singing in Chinese like a native.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chàng gē
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Compound (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To sing a song.
• In a Nutshell: 唱歌 (chàng gē) is the most common way to say “to sing” in Mandarin Chinese. It's technically a compound of a verb “唱 (chàng)” and a noun “歌 (gē),” literally meaning “sing a song.” However, it functions as a single verb in most everyday situations. It's a fundamental word you'll hear constantly, referring to everything from humming a tune to a full-blown karaoke night with friends.

• 唱 (chàng): This character means “to sing.” It's made of two parts:
  • On the left, 口 (kǒu) means “mouth,” indicating the action is done by mouth.
  • On the right, 昌 (chāng) means “prosperous” or “flourishing” and provides the phonetic sound. You can think of it as a “flourishing” sound coming from the “mouth.”
• 歌 (gē): This character means “song.” It's also made of two parts:
  • On the left, 哥 (gē) means “older brother” and provides the phonetic sound.
  • On the right, 欠 (qiàn) is a radical depicting a person with an open mouth, suggesting breathing, speaking, or singing.

When combined, 唱歌 (chàng gē) literally translates to “sing a song,” perfectly capturing the meaning of the activity.

In many Western cultures, singing karaoke is often a public performance in a bar, sometimes with a tinge of irony or for a laugh. In China, 唱歌 is a much more integral and mainstream social ritual, centered around KTV (Karaoke TV). Going to KTV is a primary way for friends, family, and even colleagues to bond. Unlike the public stage of a Western karaoke bar, Chinese KTV is almost always done in private, rented rooms. A group will book a room for a few hours, order drinks and snacks, and take turns singing into microphones while lounging on comfortable sofas. This private setting creates a safe and intimate atmosphere. It's not about being a perfect singer; it's about participation, showing enthusiasm, and sharing an experience. For business, a KTV night can be crucial for building 关系 (guānxi), or relationships, outside the formal office environment. It's a way to relax, let one's guard down, and build camaraderie. Therefore, being invited to 唱歌 is often a sign of inclusion and friendship.

唱歌 is an extremely common term used in various daily contexts.

• Making Social Plans: It's one of the most common social invitations, similar to asking “Want to grab a drink?” or “Want to see a movie?” in English. For example, “我们周五晚上去唱歌吧！” (Wǒmen zhōuwǔ wǎnshàng qù chàng gē ba! - Let's go singing on Friday night!).
• Describing a Hobby: People often list 唱歌 as a personal interest. “我的爱好是唱歌和跳舞。” (Wǒ de àihào shì chàng gē hé tiàowǔ. - My hobbies are singing and dancing.)
• Complimenting or Commenting: You'll frequently hear people commenting on others' singing ability. “你唱歌真好听！” (Nǐ chàng gē zhēn hǎotīng! - You sing so well!).
• At KTV: Inside the KTV room, you'll use it to ask who's up next or what they want to sing. “下一个谁唱歌？” (Xià yí ge shéi chàng gē? - Who's singing next?).

The term is neutral and can be used in almost any informal or semi-formal situation.

• Example 1:
  • 我很喜欢唱歌。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hěn xǐhuān chàng gē.
  • English: I really like to sing.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct sentence for stating a hobby. This is a perfect beginner sentence.
• Example 2:
  • 我们晚上去唱歌，好吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen wǎnshàng qù chàng gē, hǎo ma?
  • English: Let's go singing tonight, okay?
  • Analysis: A classic example of a social invitation. The “好吗？” (hǎo ma?) makes it a friendly suggestion.
• Example 3:
  • 她唱歌唱得非常好听。
  • Pinyin: Tā chàng gē chàng de fēicháng hǎotīng.
  • English: She sings beautifully.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates a key grammar point. To describe how well an action is done, you repeat the verb and add “得” (de). Here, “唱歌” (the action) is followed by “唱得” (sings to a degree that is…).
• Example 4:
  • 对不起，我唱歌总是跑调。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ chàng gē zǒngshì pǎodiào.
  • English: Sorry, I always sing out of tune.
  • Analysis: This introduces the very useful term 跑调 (pǎodiào), “to be out of tune.” It's a humble (and often true) thing to say at KTV.
• Example 5:
  • 在KTV里，你可以唱很多中文歌。
  • Pinyin: Zài KTV lǐ, nǐ kěyǐ chàng hěn duō Zhōngwén gē.
  • English: In the KTV, you can sing a lot of Chinese songs.
  • Analysis: This shows how the verb-object compound 唱歌 can be split. The verb is “唱” (chàng), and additional descriptions (“很多中文” - many Chinese) are placed before the object “歌” (gē).
• Example 6:
  • 老板邀请我们下班后一起去唱歌。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn yāoqǐng wǒmen xiàbān hòu yìqǐ qù chàng gē.
  • English: The boss invited us to go singing together after work.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the use of 唱歌 in a business or workplace context, which is very common in China.
• Example 7:
  • 我今天嗓子疼，不能唱歌了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān sǎngzi téng, bù néng chàng gē le.
  • English: My throat hurts today, I can't sing anymore.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence for declining an invitation to sing. The “了” (le) indicates a change of state (from being able to sing to not being able).
• Example 8:
  • 他不仅会弹吉他，而且唱歌也很好。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn huì tán jítā, érqiě chàng gē yě hěn hǎo.
  • English: Not only can he play the guitar, but he also sings well.
  • Analysis: Shows how 唱歌 can be used in a more complex sentence structure like “不仅…而且…” (bùjǐn…érqiě… - not only…but also…).
• Example 9:
  • 你最喜欢唱谁的歌？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zuì xǐhuān chàng shéi de gē?
  • English: Whose songs do you like to sing the most?
  • Analysis: Another example of splitting 唱歌. “谁的” (shéi de - whose) is inserted between the verb and the object to specify the object.
• Example 10:
  • 虽然工作很累，但是和朋友们一起唱歌能让我放松。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán gōngzuò hěn lèi, dànshì hé péngyǒumen yìqǐ chàng gē néng ràng wǒ fàngsōng.
  • English: Although work is tiring, singing with friends can make me relax.
  • Analysis: This sentence captures the cultural feeling behind 唱歌—it's an activity for relaxation and social bonding.

The most common mistake for English speakers comes from not understanding that 唱歌 is a verb-object compound (“sing” + “song”).

• Mistake: Adding another object. You cannot add another “song” object after 唱歌 because “歌” is already the object.
  • Incorrect: 我想唱歌一首周杰伦的歌。(Wǒ xiǎng chànggē yī shǒu Zhōu Jiélún de gē.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is like saying “I want to sing-song a Jay Chou song.” It's redundant.
  • Correct: 我想唱一首周杰伦的歌。(Wǒ xiǎng chàng yī shǒu Zhōu Jiélún de gē.)
  • Explanation: When you want to specify *what* or *how many* songs you're singing, you must split the compound and use only the verb 唱 (chàng), followed by the specific object.
• Describing the quality of singing. As shown in Example 3, you must use the `Verb + 得 (de) + Adjective` structure.
  • Incorrect: 他唱歌很好听。(Tā chànggē hěn hǎotīng.) - While colloquially understood, this is grammatically imprecise.
  • Correct: 他唱歌唱得很好听。(Tā chànggē chàng de hěn hǎotīng.)
  • Correct (Simpler): 他唱得很好听。(Tā chàng de hěn hǎotīng.)

• 歌曲 (gēqǔ) - A more formal or written term for “song” or “melody.”
• 歌手 (gēshǒu) - Singer, vocalist.
• 卡拉OK (kǎlā'ōukèi) - The transliteration of “Karaoke.” While people know this term, KTV is used far more often to refer to the place.
• KTV - The acronym for “Karaoke Television,” the universally used term for the venue where people go to sing.
• 演唱会 (yǎnchànghuì) - A singing concert, a live performance by a professional artist.
• 音乐 (yīnyuè) - Music.
• 跑调 (pǎodiào) - To sing out of tune. A very common and practical term.
• 麦霸 (màibà) - Literally “microphone hegemon/tyrant.” A fun slang term for a “mic hog”—the person at KTV who never lets go of the microphone.
• 合唱 (héchàng) - To sing in chorus, to sing a duet.
• 粉丝 (fěnsī) - Transliteration of “fans,” as in fans of a singer.