Chinese Listeners and Western Music

Translated text

Many Chinese people feel that Western music sounds very passionate and also very rhythmic. However, because of differences in language and culture, they often cannot understand the meaning in the lyrics. In comparison, Chinese music places more emphasis on the beauty of melody and the emotional expression of lyrics. Young people like Western pop music and rock music, thinking it is very cool and also very free. But elders usually prefer listening to traditional Chinese music, such as Peking opera or folk songs. Now more and more Chinese people are beginning to appreciate both types of music at the same time, believing that each has its own advantages.

Key vocabulary

The most useful words in this text, with pinyin and meaning at a glance.

• 很多hěn duōMany
• 中国ZhōngguóChina
• 觉得juédeto feel, to think
• 西方xīfāngthe West
• 音乐yīnyuèMusic
• 起来qǐ láito get up; to rise
• 热情rè qíngenthusiasm; passionate
• 节奏感jiézòugǎnsense of rhythm
• 不过bú guòbut
• 因为yīnwèibecause
• 语言yǔyánLanguage
• 文化wén huàculture