off-key; tone-deaf person
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadjective
off-key; out of tune; singing with inaccurate pitch
Describes a singing voice that is pitchy or unable to hit the correct notes. Often used to describe someone who is tone-deaf.
Tā他
chàng唱
gē歌
zǒng总
shì是
zuǒ左
sǎng嗓
zi子
，
méi没
fǎ法
cān参
jiā加
hé合
chàng唱
tuán团
。
He always sings off-key, so he can't join the choir.
Wǒ我
jīn今
tiān天
sǎng嗓
zi子
bù不
shū舒
fu服
，
chàng唱
gē歌
yǒu有
diǎn点
zuǒ左
sǎng嗓
zi子
。
My throat is uncomfortable today, so I'm singing a bit out of tune.
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Bié别
xiào笑
hua话
tā他
zuǒ左
sǎng嗓
zi子
，
tā他
yǐ已
jīng经
hěn很
nǔ努
lì力
le了
。
Don't laugh at him for being tone-deaf; he's already trying very hard.
noun
a person who sings off-key; a tone-deaf person
informalRefers to someone who is unable to sing in tune. Can be used as a mild insult or self-deprecating term.
Tā他
shì是
gè个
zuǒ左
sǎng嗓
zi子
，
cóng从
lái来
bù不
qù去
KK
TT
VV
。
He's a tone-deaf person who never goes to KTV.
Wǒ我
men们
hé合
chàng唱
tuán团
bù不
shōu收
zuǒ左
sǎng嗓
zi子
。
Our choir doesn't accept people who sing off-key.
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Suī虽
rán然
wǒ我
shì是
gè个
zuǒ左
sǎng嗓
zi子
，
dàn但
wǒ我
xǐ喜
huan欢
chàng唱
gē歌
。
Although I'm tone-deaf, I love singing.