konghou

kong·hou
K5O1N1G2H4O1U1

noun

A plucked stringed instrument (chordophone) with a harp-like construction, originating in ancient Chinese music as a horizontal instrument but now made to be played vertically, and with strings that are double to allow for techniques like vibrato.

OriginMandarin 箜篌 →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounkonghou (plural konghous)

plural konghous · alternative konhou

  1. entertainmentA plucked stringed instrument (chordophone) with a harp-like construction, originating in ancient Chinese music as a horizontal instrument but now made to be played vertically, and with strings that are double to allow for techniques like vibrato.

Origin

  1. Mandarin箜篌
  2. Englishkonghou

From Mandarin 箜篌 (kōnghóu), from the name of this instrument in the local language of the region of Central Asia whence it came to China; the Sogdian name for the angular harp was [script needed] (cngryʾ /⁠čangaryā⁠/), [script needed] (cyngryʾ /⁠čingaryā⁠/), which derives perhaps from Turkic čingar.

More words from Mandarin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

hookgunHongkou
Cite this entry
APA

konghou. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/konghou

MLA

“konghou.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/konghou. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “konghou,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/konghou.

Source: konghou on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.