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摇滚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
摇滚yáogǔnrock 'n' roll (music)HSK 7, z, rank #2213, Hard
摇滚yáogǔnto rockHSK 7, z, rank #2213, Hard
摇滚yáogǔnto fall offHSK 7, z, rank #2213, Hard
yáogǔn(yao2gun3) T2
  1. 1rock 'n' roll (music)
  2. 2to rock
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March 24, 2026
摇滚(搖滾)yáogǔn(yao2gun3)

摇滚 (yáogǔn) refers to rock 'n' roll music, a genre characterized by a strong beat and simple melodies, often associated with youth culture and rebellion. It can also mean to shake or rock, conveying a sense of movement or instability. This term is commonly used in music discussions and cultural contexts.

Frequency#2213DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

摇滚 music has played a significant role in Chinese youth culture since the 1980s, often symbolizing freedom and the desire for change. Notable Chinese rock bands like Cui Jian helped shape this cultural movement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a rock (石头) that shakes (摇) to the rhythm of a lively concert, where people are dancing and enjoying the music. The '摇' (shake) and '滚' (roll) images can help you remember that 摇滚 represents both the action of rocking and the style of rock music.

Meanings of 摇滚

yáogǔn(yao2gun3)
1rock 'n' roll (music)
2to rock
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 摇滚

摇滚Simplified
搖滾Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#2213Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 摇滚

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Podcast: 摇滚

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AI Study Notes for 摇滚

Quick Contrast

摇滚 (rock) vs 摇晃 (shake) — use 摇滚 when referring specifically to the music genre, while 摇晃 emphasizes the action of shaking.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a rock (石头) that shakes (摇) to the rhythm of a lively concert, where people are dancing and enjoying the music. The '摇' (shake) and '滚' (roll) images can help you remember that 摇滚 represents both the action of rocking and the style of rock music.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include mispronouncing the tones; ensure '摇' is pronounced with a rising tone and '滚' with a falling tone. This term is used informally, especially among younger people when discussing music genres. It often collocates with terms like '音乐' (music) or '乐队' (band).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 摇滚 connects well with other music-related vocabulary, such as '音乐' (music) and '演出' (performance). Students should focus on its use in cultural contexts and practice pronunciation to master the tones.

Cultural Note

摇滚 music has played a significant role in Chinese youth culture since the 1980s, often symbolizing freedom and the desire for change. Notable Chinese rock bands like Cui Jian helped shape this cultural movement.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 摇滚 with similar-sounding words or mispronounce the tones, leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying 'yao1 gun3' (摇滚) instead of 'yao2 gun3' is a common error that changes the meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 摇滚

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Component Characters

摇yáoto shake
HSK 513 strokes扌
View full entry
滚gǔnto boil
HSK 513 strokes氵
View full entry

Write 摇滚

摇
滚

Practice writing 摇滚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 摇滚

摇滚 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

制作____唱片并不要求你非得绝顶聪明。

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make a rock record.

Example Sentences for 摇滚 (10)

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1
制作摇滚唱片并不要求你非得绝顶聪明。

zhì zuò yáo gǔn chàng piàn bìng bù yào qiú nǐ fēi dé jué dǐng cōng míng。

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make a rock record.
2
摇滚乐自从朋克乐以后就已经过于商业化而缺乏新意了。

yáo gǔn lè zì cóng péng kè lè yǐ hòu jiù yǐ jīng guò yú shāng yè huà ér quē fá xīn yì le。

Rock'n'roll has become so commercialised and safe since punk.
3
摇滚乐实际无所不包，这一点很快就显而易见了。

yáo gǔn lè shí jì wú suǒ bù bāo， ， zhè yī diǎn hěn kuài jiù xiǎn ér yì jiàn。

It rapidly became apparent that rock'n'roll was a very broad church indeed.
4
他曾告诉一位采访者，他甚至都不喜欢摇滚乐。

tā zēng gào sù yī wèi cǎi fǎng zhě， ， tā shèn zhì dū bù xǐ huān yáo gǔn。

He once told an interviewer that he didn't even like rock music.
5
冥冥之中，他注定会成为摇滚乐的救世主。

míng míng zhī zhōng， ， tā zhù dìng huì chéng wéi yáo gǔn lè de jiù shì。

He was somehow destined to become a rock messiah.
6
“他们演奏经典摇滚乐，”她的男朋友说道，“我爸爸也喜欢他们。”

“ “ tā mén yǎn zòu jīng diǎn yáo gǔn，” lè ，” tā de nán péng yǒu，“ shuō dào ，“ wǒ bà bà yě xǐ。”

"They play classic rock'n"roll,' states her boyfriend, "My dad digs them too."
7
“这全视乎你对朋克摇滚乐的定义，不是吗？”

“ “ zhè quán shì hū nǐ duì péng kè yáo gǔn lè de dìng， yì ， bù？”

It all depends on your definition of punk, doesn'tit?
8
自朋克乐之后，摇滚乐已经变得太商业化、太保守了。

zì péng kè lè zhī hòu， ， yáo gǔn lè yǐ jīng biàn dé tài shāng yè、 huà 、 tài bǎo。

Rock'n'roll has become so commercialized and safe since punk.
9
我向各位介绍永月最好的也是唯一的摇滚乐队-东河乐队!

wǒ xiàng gè wèi jiè shào yǒng yuè zuì hǎo de yě shì wéi yī de yáo gǔn lè duì- - dōng hé lè!

I introduce you to Youngwol's best and only rock band, East River!
10
这张唱片是摇滚歌星鲍勃·格尔多夫的心血之作。

zhè zhāng chàng piàn shì yáo gǔn gē xīng bào bó· · gé ěr duō fū de xīn xiě zhī。

The record was the brainchild of rock star Bob Geldof.

Cultural Notes for 摇滚

🏮Cultural insight

摇滚 music has played a significant role in Chinese youth culture since the 1980s, often symbolizing freedom and the desire for change. Notable Chinese rock bands like Cui Jian helped shape this cultural movement.

Frequently Asked Questions about 摇滚

摇滚 specifically refers to rock music, which is distinct from genres like 流行 (pop) or 古典 (classical). Each genre has unique characteristics and cultural implications.