book of odes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareFormal, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “book of odes” mean?
A canonical collection of ancient Chinese lyric poems, traditionally attributed to Confucian compilation, serving as one of the Five Classics of Chinese literature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A canonical collection of ancient Chinese lyric poems, traditionally attributed to Confucian compilation, serving as one of the Five Classics of Chinese literature.
A scholarly or poetic reference to the 'Classic of Poetry' (Shijing), often used metaphorically to denote foundational poetic works, classical literary elegance, or cultural heritage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both dialects; no significant variation.
Connotations
Scholarly, sinological, historical-literary.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency; almost exclusively found in academic papers, translations, or discussions of Chinese literature.
Grammar
How to Use “book of odes” in a Sentence
[the] Book of Odes + [verb: is, contains, dates from][adjective: ancient, canonical] + Book of OdesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “book of odes” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Book-of-Odes tradition influenced later poets.
American English
- Her style has a Book-of-Odes quality to it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Central term in sinology, comparative literature, and classical Chinese studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in translation studies, literary history, and philology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “book of odes”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “book of odes”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “book of odes”
- Using lowercase ('book of odes') when referring specifically to the Chinese classic.
- Confusing with Western ode collections (e.g., 'Book of Odes' by Horace).
- Using in non-academic contexts where 'classic poems' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'Book of Odes' is the traditional English name for the Chinese classic 'Shijing' or 'Classic of Poetry'.
Only in a very loose, metaphorical sense. In precise usage, it refers specifically to the Chinese Classic. For a general collection, use 'a book of odes' (lowercase).
Traditionally attributed to Confucius, though modern scholarship suggests it was an existing anthology he may have edited or used for teaching.
Extremely rarely. It is a specialized term from literary and sinological studies.
A canonical collection of ancient Chinese lyric poems, traditionally attributed to Confucian compilation, serving as one of the Five Classics of Chinese literature.
Book of odes is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Book of odes: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbʊk əv ˈəʊdz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbʊk əv ˈoʊdz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have the elegance of the Book of Odes (rare, metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BOOK' of ancient Chinese poetry, 'ODES' as formal lyrical poems.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATIONAL TEXTS ARE PILLARS; CLASSICAL ELEGANCE IS REFINED CRAFT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'Book of Odes' primarily known as?