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noun Common

se

seh
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Se (noun) means a large Chinese plucked string instrument similar to a zither, traditionally strung with 25 strings and played horizontally. Example: “The museum displayed an ancient se alongside other court instruments from the Zhou dynasty.”

noun
1
A large Chinese plucked string instrument similar to a zither, traditionally strung with 25 strings and played horizontally.
"The museum displayed an ancient se alongside other court instruments from the Zhou dynasty."
"She studied the se for years before mastering the guqin as well."
"The performer laid the long se across a low table and began to play."

How to use se

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA traditional Chinese stringed instrument, like a long zither laid flat and plucked.

Common mistake

Not to be confused with the guqin, a related but smaller and more famous Chinese zither with fewer strings.

Easily confused with
guqin
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Word forms

Plural
ses
Test yourself on “se” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum displayed an ancient _____ alongside other court instruments from the Zhou dynasty.

Etymology

From Mandarin 瑟 (sè), the name of the instrument in Chinese for over two thousand years.

Origin: Chinese

Synonyms

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Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “se” mean?
The word “se” means a large Chinese plucked string instrument similar to a zither, traditionally strung with 25 strings and played horizontally. In plain terms, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, like a long zither laid flat and plucked.
How do you pronounce “se”?
“Se” is pronounced seh (/sɛ/ in IPA).
How do you use “se” in a sentence?
Here is “se” used in a sentence: “The museum displayed an ancient se alongside other court instruments from the Zhou dynasty.”
What part of speech is “se”?
“Se” is a noun.
Where does the word “se” come from?
The word “se” comes from Chinese. From Mandarin 瑟 (sè), the name of the instrument in Chinese for over two thousand years.
Is “se” a common word?
“Se” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between the "se" and the guzheng?
The se is a large ancient Chinese plucked zither traditionally strung with 25 strings, while the guzheng is a related but later instrument that today usually has 21 strings and movable bridges. Both are plucked and played horizontally, but the se is the older of the two.
What is the difference between the "se" and the guqin?
The se and the guqin are both ancient Chinese zithers often mentioned together, but the se has around 25 strings whereas the guqin typically has only 7. The two were historically paired in classical Chinese music.
How is the "se" played?
The se is a plucked string instrument, meaning its strings are sounded with the fingers rather than bowed or struck. It is laid horizontally and played from that position, traditionally carrying 25 strings across its long wooden body.

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