English
konghou
Konghou comes from Mandarin 箜篌.
- Mandarinmodern箜篌kōnghóu
- Englishtodaykonghou
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Mandarinmodern箜篌kōnghóu
- Englishtodaykonghou
The story
From Mandarin 箜篌 (kōnghóu), from the name of this instrument in the local language of the region of Central Asia whence it came to China; the Sogdian name for the angular harp was [script needed] (cngryʾ /čangaryā/), [script needed] (cyngryʾ /čingaryā/), which derives perhaps from Turkic čingar.
Every English word from Mandarin 箜篌
Today it means
noun A plucked stringed instrument (chordophone) with a harp-like construction, originating in ancient Chinese music as a horizontal instrument but now made to be played vertically, and with strings that are double to allow for techniques like vibrato.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Mandarin 箜篌 / konghou