traditional

B1 · Intermediate Music

adj. describing a style of music or art that follows old rules and uses older instruments or tools.

adj. denoting a style of art or music that adheres to established historical forms rather than contemporary or experimental ones.

“The band plays traditional folk songs from the local area.”

“The festival showcased traditional acoustic performances, deliberately excluding any electronic or synthesised elements to preserve the historical sound of the genre.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Music Formal

adj. used when the person who wrote a song is unknown because the music is very old.

adj. attributed to an unknown author or composer, typically because the work has been passed down through oral tradition.

“The program listed the old lullaby as a traditional song.”

“Many of the carols performed tonight are marked as traditional, their original melodies having evolved through centuries of communal singing before being transcribed.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. relating to the older, more complex way of writing Chinese characters.

adj. referring to the set of Chinese characters that were not affected by the simplification reforms of the 20th century.

“Books in Hong Kong are usually printed using traditional characters.”

“While the mainland uses simplified script, scholars often prefer traditional characters for their historical depth and visual complexity.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal

n. art made with real tools like paint and paper, rather than on a computer.

n. art produced using physical media such as oil, charcoal, or clay, as opposed to digital tools.

“She posts her digital sketches on weekdays and her traditional paintings on the weekend.”

“The artist's portfolio is split between digital concept work and high-quality traditional, demonstrating a mastery of both software and physical oils.”