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| 情调 [2025/08/13 23:41] – created xiaoer | 情调 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== qíngdiào: 情调 - Ambiance, Mood, Sentimentality, Vibe ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** qingdiao, 情调, qingdiao meaning, Chinese word for ambiance, Chinese word for vibe, romantic mood Chinese, what does qingdiao mean, sentimentality in Chinese, emotional atmosphere | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the meaning of **情调 (qíngdiào)**, a key Chinese term for the special ambiance, mood, or "vibe" of a place, situation, or work of art. More than just "atmosphere," **情调** describes a specific, often romantic, artistic, or nostalgic feeling that appeals to the emotions. This guide explores its cultural context, practical use in modern China, and how it differs from similar words like `气氛 (qìfēn)`, making it an essential term for understanding Chinese aesthetics and daily life. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** qíngdiào | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** The emotional ambiance, mood, or sentimental atmosphere of a place, situation, or work of art. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **情调 (qíngdiào)** as the specific "vibe" of something, but not just any vibe. It refers to an atmosphere that is intentionally curated to be charming, artistic, sentimental, or romantic. A loud, bustling market has an atmosphere (气氛), but it doesn't have **情调**. A quiet, candlelit cafe with soft jazz music, an old black-and-white film, or a walk down a historic cobblestone street—these are things that have **情调**. It’s the quality that makes you feel a pleasant sense of emotion or nostalgia. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **情 (qíng):** This character means "feeling," "emotion," "sentiment," or "passion." It's a core component of words related to the heart and emotions, like `感情 (gǎnqíng)` (feeling/emotion) and `爱情 (àiqíng)` (love). | |
| * **调 (diào):** This character means "tune," "melody," "tone," or "style." It's used in words like `语调 (yǔdiào)` (tone of voice) and `曲调 (qǔdiào)` (melody). | |
| * Together, **情调 (qíngdiào)** literally translates to "emotional tune" or "sentiment style." This paints a perfect picture of its meaning: an external environment or object that has a specific emotional "melody" or "flavor" that you can sense and appreciate. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| * **情调 (qíngdiào)** is deeply connected to the rise of modern, urban Chinese culture, particularly the concept of **小资 (xiǎozī)**, or the "petty bourgeoisie." This refers to a lifestyle that values refinement, aesthetics, and emotional experiences over purely practical matters. Having and appreciating **情调** is a marker of taste and a certain level of sophistication. It represents a desire to enjoy life's subtle beauties—a well-brewed coffee, a beautifully designed space, a poignant song. | |
| * **Comparison to a Western Concept:** While "ambiance" is a close translation, **情调** is more specific. The French "ambiance" can be lively, chaotic, or professional. **情调**, however, almost exclusively refers to an atmosphere that is gentle, romantic, artistic, or nostalgic. The key difference is the emphasis on **sentimentality**. A high-energy rock concert has a great "atmosphere," but a Chinese speaker would never say it has **情调**. A quiet jazz club, however, is the perfect example of a place filled with **情调**. It's about a mood that touches the heart, not just one that fills the room. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| * **Describing Places:** This is the most common usage. Chinese people often use **情调** to describe cafes, bars, restaurants, boutique hotels, or historic neighborhoods that have a unique, charming, and artistic feel. | |
| * //e.g., "这家咖啡馆很有情调。" (This coffee shop has a great vibe/ambiance.)// | |
| * **Describing Art & Media:** It's used to describe the mood of a film, a piece of music, or a novel. A slow, melancholic song or a visually artistic film by a director like Wong Kar-wai is often described as having **情调**. | |
| * **Describing People & Lifestyles:** You can say a person "has **情调**" (有情调, yǒu qíngdiào) or "understands **情调**" (懂情调, dǒng qíngdiào). This is a compliment, meaning they are romantic, tasteful, and know how to appreciate the finer, more sentimental things in life. | |
| * **Slightly Negative Connotation:** Occasionally, it can be used to gently criticize someone for being overly sentimental or impractical, focusing too much on feelings when a practical solution is needed. | |
| * //e.g., "现在不是讲情调的时候！" (This is not the time for sentimentality!)// | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 这家爵士酒吧灯光昏暗，音乐轻柔，非常**有情调**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè jiā juéshì jiǔbā dēngguāng hūn'àn, yīnyuè qīngróu, fēicháng **yǒu qíngdiào**. | |
| * English: This jazz bar has dim lighting and soft music; it has a really great ambiance. | |
| * Analysis: A classic example of using `有情调` (yǒu qíngdiào - to have ambiance) to describe the romantic and artistic atmosphere of a place. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 他是一个很**懂情调**的男人，总能安排最浪漫的约会。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge hěn **dǒng qíngdiào** de nánrén, zǒng néng ānpái zuì làngmàn de yuēhuì. | |
| * English: He is a man who really understands romance and sentimentality; he can always arrange the most romantic dates. | |
| * Analysis: Here, `懂情调` (dǒng qíngdiào - to understand ambiance) is used to describe a person's character, portraying them as tasteful and romantic. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 我喜欢听这种带一点忧伤**情调**的音乐。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān tīng zhè zhǒng dài yìdiǎn yōushāng **qíngdiào** de yīnyuè. | |
| * English: I like listening to this kind of music that has a touch of melancholic mood. | |
| * Analysis: This shows `情调` being used to describe the specific emotional flavor of a piece of art (music, in this case). | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 下着小雨的江南古镇，别有一番**情调**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Xià zhe xiǎoyǔ de Jiāngnán gǔzhèn, bié yǒu yì fān **qíngdiào**. | |
| * English: The ancient towns of Jiangnan in the light rain have a special kind of charm/ambiance. | |
| * Analysis: `别有一番情调` (bié yǒu yì fān qíngdiào) is a common set phrase meaning "to have a unique and special kind of charm." | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 他们试图通过点蜡烛来为晚餐营造一点**情调**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tāmen shìtú tōngguò diǎn làzhú lái wèi wǎncān yíngzào yìdiǎn **qíngdiào**. | |
| * English: They tried to create a bit of ambiance for the dinner by lighting candles. | |
| * Analysis: This example shows `情调` as something that can be actively `营造` (yíngzào - to create or build). | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这部电影的画面很美，充满了怀旧的**情调**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de huàmiàn hěn měi, chōngmǎn le huáijiù de **qíngdiào**. | |
| * English: The cinematography of this movie is beautiful; it's full of nostalgic sentiment. | |
| * Analysis: Demonstrates how `情调` can be qualified with an adjective, like `怀旧的` (huáijiù de - nostalgic). | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 别这么**有情调**了，我们得先解决这个实际问题。 | |
| * Pinyin: Bié zhème **yǒu qíngdiào** le, wǒmen děi xiān jiějué zhège shíjì wèntí. | |
| * English: Stop being so sentimental/romantic; we need to solve this practical problem first. | |
| * Analysis: This is an example of the term's slightly negative usage, contrasting `情调` with practicality. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 你觉得什么样的餐厅才算**有情调**？ | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ juéde shénmeyàng de cāntīng cái suàn **yǒu qíngdiào**? | |
| * English: What kind of restaurant do you think counts as having a good ambiance? | |
| * Analysis: A common question form, asking for someone's definition or standard of what constitutes `情调`. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 他的诗歌缺乏**情调**，只有口号，没有感情。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā de shīgē quēfá **qíngdiào**, zhǐyǒu kǒuhào, méiyǒu gǎnqíng. | |
| * English: His poetry lacks sentiment; it only has slogans, no real feeling. | |
| * Analysis: Using `缺乏情调` (quēfá qíngdiào - to lack ambiance/sentiment) as a form of artistic criticism. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 生活不应该只有工作，偶尔也需要一点**情调**来调剂一下。 | |
| * Pinyin: Shēnghuó bù yīnggāi zhǐyǒu gōngzuò, ǒu'ěr yě xūyào yìdiǎn **qíngdiào** lái tiáojì yíxià. | |
| * English: Life shouldn't just be about work; occasionally you need a little sentimentality/romance to spice things up. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence frames `情调` as a necessary and positive element for a balanced and fulfilling life. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **情调 (qíngdiào) vs. 气氛 (qìfēn):** This is the most critical distinction for learners. | |
| * `气氛 (qìfēn)` means "atmosphere" in a general, neutral sense. It can be good or bad, tense, exciting, awkward, or happy. //e.g., 会议的气氛很紧张 (The meeting's atmosphere was very tense.)// | |
| * **情调 (qíngdiào)** is a //specific type// of good atmosphere: one that is romantic, artistic, nostalgic, or sentimental. A place with **情调** always has a good `气氛`, but a place with a good `气氛` (like a lively party) might not have **情调**. | |
| * **Incorrect:** ~~派对的**情调**很热闹。~~ (The party's `qingdiao` was very lively.) | |
| * **Correct:** 派对的**气氛**很热闹。 (The party's `qifen` was very lively.) | |
| * **情调 (qíngdiào) vs. 心情 (xīnqíng):** Don't confuse the external ambiance with internal feeling. | |
| * `心情 (xīnqíng)` is your personal, internal "mood." //e.g., 我今天心情不好。 (I'm in a bad mood today.)// | |
| * **情调 (qíngdiào)** is an external quality of a place or thing. A place can have **情调** even if your `心情` is bad. | |
| * **Incorrect:** ~~我今天很有**情调**。~~ (This sounds like you are saying "I, as a person, am very ambient/sentimental today," which is awkward. You'd say `我今天心情很好` for "I'm in a good mood.") | |
| * **Correct:** 这个地方让我的**心情**变好了，因为它太**有情调**了。 (This place improved my `mood` because it has such a wonderful `ambiance`.) | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[气氛]] (qìfēn) - The general, neutral word for "atmosphere." The most important term to distinguish from `情调`. | |
| * [[浪漫]] (làngmàn) - "Romantic." A quality that is often a key component of a place or situation with `情调`. | |
| * [[小资]] (xiǎozī) - "Petty bourgeois." A lifestyle or person that highly values aesthetics, refinement, and `情调`. | |
| * [[格调]] (gédiào) - "Style," "taste," or "caliber." While `情调` is about the emotional feel, `格调` is about the level of class or artistic refinement. A place with high `格调` often has `情调`. | |
| * [[感觉]] (gǎnjué) - "Feeling," "sense," "vibe." A much broader and more colloquial term. You could say "这个地方给我的感觉很好" (This place gives me a good feeling), which is less specific than saying it has `情调`. | |
| * [[意境]] (yìjìng) - A profound artistic or poetic "mood" or "realm." It's like a deeper, more philosophical version of `情调`, usually reserved for describing traditional Chinese art, poetry, and landscapes. | |
| * [[风味]] (fēngwèi) - "Flavor," but can also mean "local color" or "distinctive style." Used to describe the unique character of a place, often related to its culture or history. A historic town's `风味` contributes to its `情调`. | |