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弦而鼓之

xián ér gǔ zhīdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to put strings on the zither, then play it (line from a Ming dynasty text by 劉伯溫|刘伯温[Liú Bó wēn]) / (fig.) to play music
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-530988481d19b7d5. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

弦而鼓之 弦而鼓之 [xian2 er2 gu3 zhi1] /to put strings on the zither, then play it (line from a Ming dynasty text by 劉伯溫|刘伯温[Liu2 Bo2 wen1])/(fig.) to play music/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

  • 弦
    xián

    bow string / string of musical instrument / watchspring / chord (segment of curve) / hypotenuse / CL:根[gēn]

  • 而
    ér

    and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast)

  • 鼓
    gǔ

    drum / CL:通[tòng],面[miàn] / to drum / to strike / to rouse / to bulge / to swell

  • 之
    zhī

    (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de]) / him / her / it

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.