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Dictionary

composer

/kəmˈpoʊzər/
B2noun

A person who writes music, especially as a professional occupation or in a classical style.

Concreteness 4.4/5 · Concrete
Illustration of "composer"

Tiếng Việt

nhà soạn nhạc

cầm-PÔU-zờ

Nhấn mạnh vào âm tiết thứ hai 'PÔU', âm 'z' ở cuối phát âm nhẹ và rung.

Người viết nhạc, đặc biệt là một nghề nghiệp chuyên nghiệp hoặc theo phong cách cổ điển.

Meanings

3 meanings

  1. 1A person who writes music, especially classical music.arts culture

    Một người viết nhạc, đặc biệt là nhạc cổ điển.

    “Verdi was a prolific composer of operas.”

    “Verdi là một nhà soạn nhạc opera tài năng với nhiều tác phẩm.”

    • Mozart is one of the most famous composers in history.
    • She is a leading contemporary composer of film music.
    • He began his career as a composer for television and radio.
    • The young composer won a prize for his new symphony.

    Trong tiếng Việt, 'nhà soạn nhạc' thường mang sắc thái trang trọng hơn 'nhạc sĩ'. Dùng từ này khi nói về những người viết nhạc giao hưởng, thính phòng hoặc opera.

  2. 2A person who composes or creates something; an author or writer.literary

    Một người sáng tác hoặc tạo ra một thứ gì đó; một tác giả hoặc người viết.

    “He was the composer of several influential political pamphlets.”

    “Ông là người soạn thảo một vài cuốn tiểu luận chính trị có sức ảnh hưởng.”

    • The composer of the letter remains anonymous.
    • As a composer of verse, he was unrivaled in his time.

    Nghĩa này khá hiếm gặp trong giao tiếp thông thường và thường dùng trong văn chương (literary context) để chỉ người 'ắp xếp' câu chữ hoặc ý tưởng.

  3. 3One who, or that which, quiets or calms.rare

    Người hoặc vật mang lại sự yên tĩnh hoặc làm dịu đi.

    “Sleep is the great composer of the mind's anxieties.”

    “Giấc ngủ là liều thuốc xoa dịu tuyệt vời cho những lo âu trong tâm trí.”

    • Music can be a wonderful composer of the spirit.

    Đây là nghĩa ẩn dụ, so sánh việc sắp xếp âm nhạc với việc sắp xếp lại sự hỗn loạn trong tâm hồn. Rất ít dùng trong kỳ thi IELTS/TOEIC.

Word bank

Common phrases

  • famous composer
  • great composer
  • prolific composer
  • contemporary composer
  • commission a composer
  • classical composer

Grammar & forms

Grammar

  • countable

Inflections

plural
composers

Word family

Usage patterns

  • composer of something
  • prolific/famous/contemporary composer

Avoid mistakes

Common mistakes

  • He is a famous composor.

    He is a famous composer.

    The suffix is '-er', not '-or'.

  • The composer of this book is famous.

    The author of this book is famous.

    While 'composer' can mean creator, in modern English 'author' is used for books and 'composer' for music.

  • She is a singer and composer of her songs.

    She is a singer-songwriter.

    While grammatically correct, 'singer-songwriter' is the standard term for a performer who writes their own songs.

  • I want to be a music composer.

    I want to be a composer.

    The word 'composer' already implies music, so 'music' is often redundant unless specifying a type (e.g., film composer).

  • The composer sang the symphony.

    The composer wrote the symphony.

    Composers create the music (write it); they do not necessarily perform or sing it.

Don't confuse with

  • songwriter

    usually refers to someone who writes popular songs

    “She is a famous pop songwriter.”

    Use 'composer' for classical or instrumental music, and 'songwriter' for pop/rock lyrics and melody.

  • conductor

    the person who directs the performance of an orchestra

    “The conductor raised his baton.”

    The composer writes the music; the conductor leads the performance.

Academic collocations

Words that pair with "composer" in formal and academic writing

verb
commissionstudyinfluence
adjective
renownedprolificinfluentialavant-garde
noun
scorestylecareer
preposition
offor

In context

Real-world examples

  • academic

    Trinh Cong Son is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers in Vietnamese music history.

    Trịnh Công Sơn được coi là một trong những nhà soạn nhạc có tầm ảnh hưởng lớn nhất trong lịch sử âm nhạc Việt Nam.

    Trinh Cong Son is a national icon in Vietnam, often referred to as a 'composer' due to his sophisticated lyrics and melodies.

  • business

    The film composer worked closely with the director to create a haunting soundtrack.

    Nhà soạn nhạc phim đã làm việc chặt chẽ với đạo diễn để tạo ra một bản nhạc phim đầy ám ảnh.

    The film industry in Vietnam is growing, making 'nhà soạn nhạc phim' a recognized professional title.

  • daily life

    My dream is to study abroad and become a professional classical composer.

    Ước mơ của tôi là đi du học và trở thành một nhà soạn nhạc cổ điển chuyên nghiệp.

    Reflects the aspiration of many young Vietnamese music students studying at conservatories.

  • academic

    Modern composers often use digital software to write their orchestral scores.

    Các nhà soạn nhạc hiện đại thường sử dụng phần mềm kỹ thuật số để viết tổng phổ dàn nhạc.

    Shows the shift from traditional ink-and-paper to modern technology in Vietnamese music production.

Notes for Vietnamese speakers

  • In Vietnamese, 'nhà soạn nhạc' is typically used for classical or instrumental music, while 'nhạc sĩ' is a broader term covering songwriters, composers, and sometimes even performers. [VERIFY_CULTURE]
  • When referring to legendary figures like Trinh Cong Son or Van Cao, the term 'nhạc sĩ' is more common in daily speech, but 'nhà soạn nhạc' adds a level of formal, academic prestige.
  • The term 'nhà tạo soạn' [VERIFY_TRANSLATION] is rarely used; 'nhà soạn nhạc' is the standard formal translation.

Etymology

Late 16th century: from French 'composeur', from the verb 'composer'. Influenced by the Latin 'compositor', it originally referred generally to someone who puts things together, before becoming specialized in music and writing. (Source: Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology)

Exam levels

IELTS

6.0

CEFR

B2

TOEIC

705-800

More in Vietnamese

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