melody

/ˈmelədi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmelədi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈme-lə-dē/ (ame, mw)

melody — 名詞

1. The most recognisable sequence of notes in a composition, typically played by on

1.名詞B1
釋義

主旋律

樂曲中由主要樂器演奏的核心曲調

The most recognisable sequence of notes in a composition, typically played by one instrument or singer while other parts provide accompaniment.

例句

The violinist played a haunting melody that filled the concert hall.

小提琴手演奏了一首令人難忘的主旋律，樂聲充滿了音樂廳。

adjective + melody: haunting melody

Arjun could not stop humming the main melody from the film soundtrack.

Arjun 忍不住一直哼著那部電影配樂的主旋律。

main melody — collocation for the central tune

同義詞
  • tune

    more informal; implies something catchy and easy to remember

  • theme

    a main melody that is developed or repeated in a longer work, especially in film scores

  • lead

    informal term for the main melody in a band or ensemble

反義詞
  • harmony

    the combination of notes played to support the melody

文法句型

the melody of [something]

[person] plays/sings a melody

用法筆記

Often used with 'carry' or 'play' to describe which instrument is responsible for the main tune. Contrast with 'harmony' — the supporting notes that accompany the melody.

常見錯誤

❌She sang harmony while he played the melody.
✅She sang the harmony while he played the melody.
💡'harmony' and 'melody' both require a definite or indefinite article in this pattern.

2. A simple and pleasant tune, especially one that is easy to sing or remember, oft

2.名詞B1
釋義

美妙曲調

簡單悅耳、易於哼唱的旋律

A simple and pleasant tune, especially one that is easy to sing or remember, often found in songs or folk music.

例句

Lucía sang a simple melody that the children quickly learned to repeat.

Lucía 唱了一首簡單的美妙曲調，孩子們很快就學會跟著唱。

simple melody — adjective collocation for easy tunes

The melody of that old folk song always brings back memories of my grandmother.

那首老民謠的美妙曲調總讓我想起祖母。

同義詞
  • tune

    more everyday word for a simple, catchy melody

  • air

    old-fashioned or literary term for a melodious tune, especially in folk music

  • strain

    literary; refers to a passage of music or song

文法句型

[possessive] melody

a melody of [instrument/song type]

用法筆記

This sense emphasises the pleasant, memorable quality of a tune — it is the meaning most often used when talking about songs, nursery rhymes, and folk music. Frequently used with 'hum', 'whistle', or 'sing'.

常見錯誤

❌I cannot get that melody out of my mind.
✅I cannot get that tune out of my head.
💡'tune' is more idiomatic than 'melody' in this fixed expression.

3. A structured sequence of single notes arranged in a particular order to form a r

3.名詞B2
釋義

音型

形成可辨識模式的音符排列

A structured sequence of single notes arranged in a particular order to form a recognizable and meaningful musical unit.

例句

The composer wrote a melody that rises and falls like a gentle wave.

作曲家寫了一段像波浪般高低起伏的音符序列。

melody + verb of movement: rises and falls

Kian could recognize the melody after hearing just the first three notes.

Kian 只聽了前三個音符就認出了那段音型。

同義詞
  • melodic line

    more technical; refers to the horizontal progression of notes

  • voice

    in counterpoint, each independent melody is called a voice

  • subject

    in a fugue, the main melody or theme introduced at the beginning

文法句型

a melody of [notes/intervals]

[adjective] melody [verb]

用法筆記

This is the most technical sense, used in music theory and analysis. It focuses on the structural arrangement of pitches rather than the emotional or pleasant quality. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 identifies the melody as 'the main tune' in context, while sense 3 describes the melody as a formal pattern of notes.

常見錯誤

❌This melody uses a lot of high pitch notes.
✅This melody uses a lot of high-pitched notes.
💡when modifying 'notes', use the compound adjective 'high-pitched'.