English Reference

Word

cheng

Phoneticscheng

/ˈtʃɛŋ/

Definition

n. a traditional Chinese musical instrument made of bamboo pipes that you blow into.

n. a traditional Chinese free-reed wind instrument, typically constructed from bamboo pipes; an alternative spelling of 'sheng'.

Examples

“She wore a red cheng to the wedding.”

“The diplomat chose a silk cheng for the state dinner to honor local traditions.”

“The designer's collection blended modern tailoring with the elegant lines of the traditional cheng, creating a fusion of East and West.”

Examples

simple

“She wore a red cheng to the wedding.”

contextual

“The diplomat chose a silk cheng for the state dinner to honor local traditions.”

complex

“The designer's collection blended modern tailoring with the elegant lines of the traditional cheng, creating a fusion of East and West.”

Usage

Often spelled 'sheng' in modern Pinyin transliteration.

Teaching tip

This is a specialized term for a specific cultural object; most learners will only encounter it in the context of Chinese music history.

Synonyms

sheng

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated
Register
Technical

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/cheng

English Reference