Yueqin
/ˈjuːətʃɪn/noun
A traditional Chinese fretted string instrument with a round, moon-shaped body and a short neck.
Did you know?The yueqin’s name combines Mandarin 月 yuè, “moon,” with 琴 qín, a traditional term for stringed instruments; it is often called a “moon guitar” in English.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
琴 qín
“A zither or stringed musical instrument; later associated especially with the seven-stringed guqin.”
Ming Dynasty
Chinese
月琴 yuèqín
““Moon zither,” a name referring to the instrument’s distinctive round resonating body.”
17th–18th Centuries
Chinese
月琴 yuèqín
“A fretted, short-necked plucked instrument used in Chinese theatrical and regional musical traditions.”
19th Century
English
yueh-ch'in
“An English transcription of the Chinese instrument’s name using older Wade–Giles-style romanization.”
Modern English
English
yueqin
“The standard modern romanization for the Chinese moon-shaped lute or zither.”