| 弦而鼓之 |
xián ér gǔ zhī |
to put strings on the zither, then play it (line from a Ming dynasty text by 刘伯温) / (fig.) to play music |
| 弦 |
xián |
bow string / string of musical instrument / watchspring / chord (segment of curve) / hypotenuse / CL:根 |
| 而 |
ér |
and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast) |
| 鼓 |
gǔ |
old variant of 鼓 |
| 鼓 |
gǔ |
drum / CL:通,面 / to drum / to strike / to rouse / to bulge / to swell |
| 之 |
zhī |
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的) / him / her / it |