1. A Chinese stringed musical instrument with a pear-shaped body, played with the fingers or a plectrum.
Usage: Also called Chinese lute.; Used in traditional Chinese music and orchestras.

Examples

• The musician played a beautiful melody on the pipa.
• The pipa is one of the most important instruments in Chinese classical music.
• She learned to play the pipa as a child in Beijing.
• The pipa's four strings produce a warm, resonant tone.
• Traditional Chinese orchestras often feature the pipa alongside the erhu and guzheng.