easy-listening

IPA/ˌiːzi ˈlɪsnɪŋ/
IPA/ˌiːzi ˈlɪsnɪŋ/

easy-listening — noun

1. a style of popular music that consists of pleasant, calming melodies and simple

1.名詞B1
釋義

a style of popular music that consists of pleasant, calming melodies and simple arrangements, created to be undemanding and restful for the listener.

例句

The cafe near Mira's office plays easy-listening while customers enjoy their coffee.

uncountable noun used as genre label

After work, Hari put on some easy-listening to help himself unwind.

some + easy-listening as uncountable noun

同義詞
  • light music

    a broader term that overlaps with easy-listening but also includes classical-influenced pieces

  • background music

    focuses on function rather than style; can refer to any genre played at low volume

  • lounge music

    a retro subgenre of easy-listening popular in the 1950s–60s, often with a playful, cocktail-party feel

反義詞
  • heavy metal

    loud, aggressive rock music with complex guitar work — the opposite of easy-listening in both sound and purpose

  • avant-garde

    experimental music that challenges the listener, in direct contrast to the undemanding nature of easy-listening

文法句型

easy-listening + is/remains

用法筆記

Frequently used attributively before 'music', 'station', or 'format' (e.g. 'an easy-listening radio station'). As a standalone noun it is uncountable — 'an easy-listening' is incorrect.

常見錯誤

❌I put on an easy-listening.
✅I put on some easy-listening.
💡The noun is uncountable; do not use the indefinite article 'a' or 'an'.
❌Easy-listening songs are very complexities.
✅Easy-listening songs are not very complex.
💡The genre name describes simplicity; do not pair it with abstract nouns describing complexity.

2. a way of describing popular music that is pleasant and easy to enjoy but is cons

2.名詞B2
釋義

a way of describing popular music that is pleasant and easy to enjoy but is considered to lack artistic depth, originality, or serious musical value — often used as a criticism.

例句

Critics dismissed the award-winning album as lightweight easy-listening.

dismiss + as + easy-listening (disparaging pattern)

Zayd refused to play easy-listening at his party, calling it boring background noise.

refuse to + easy-listening (rejection pattern)

同義詞
  • Muzak

    a trademarked brand of background music piped into public spaces; often used dismissively like easy-listening

  • lite

    a prefix used critically to describe a watered-down version of a genre, e.g. 'jazz-lite'

文法句型

dismiss/reject + as + easy-listening

用法筆記

This sense has a critical or dismissive tone. It often appears after verbs like 'dismiss', 'label', or 'describe' followed by 'as'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a neutral label for the genre.

常見錯誤

❌This easy-listening is very nice and relaxing.' (intended as neutral)
✅This easy-listening is pleasant but a bit shallow.
💡If you intend a neutral meaning, use sense 1 instead.
❌Easy-listening is worthless music.
✅This album is just easy-listening with no real ideas.
💡The criticism targets the lack of depth, not complete worthlessness.