Karaoke in China isn't just about singing; it's a social event where friends bond, special moments are celebrated, and even business meetings happen.

 

Whether you're a karaoke pro or a first-timer, this guide will help you navigate the world of Chinese KTV.

 

Karaoke is a beloved pastime activity where people sing along to music videos in private rooms.

 

In China, everyone refers to karaoke as KTV (pronounced "kay-teeh-weeh"). You'll often hear friends ask:

 

去KTV嗎？
Qù KTV ma?
Let's go to karaoke?

 

NOTE

KTV is so popular in China that it has been taken to the next level with tiny, self-service booths that let you rock out anytime, anywhere.

 

1. Booking a Room

 

You can book a KTV room directly at the venue or use the app 大眾點評 (Dà zhòng Diǎn píng) for online reservations. Just type "KTV" in the search bar, and choose a location that suits you.

 

大眾點評
Dà zhòng Diǎn píng
Dazhong Dianping

 

A popular app for making reservations and checking reviews.

 

01. Room Size

 

Most KTVs offer rooms for various room sizes - from small rooms for 1-5 people to large party rooms for over 20 guests.

 

Here are the typical options:
小包 (xiǎo bāo) - small room (1-5 guests)
中包 (zhōng bāo) - medium room (5-10 guests)
大包 (dà bāo) - large room (10-20 guests)
豪華包 (háo huá bāo) - deluxe room (20+ guests)

 

02. Duration of Stay

 

When booking, you'll need to decide on the duration of your stay. KTVs offer hourly rates, and you can often get discounts for booking longer sessions.

 

Primetime tends to be more expensive, especially in the evenings and on weekends. For better deals, consider going during off-peak hours.

 

歡唱時間
huān chàng shí jiān
duration of stay

 

NOTE

When your time is up, you can ask to extend your session (續時 xù shí) for an additional cost.

 

03. Special Packages

 

You can often take advantage of 套餐 (tào cān), or package deals. They include a set number of hours for the room, along with food and drink options.

套餐
tào cān
package deals

 

NOTE

It's worth checking out the package deals options by asking:

 

這個時間段包含套餐嗎?
Zhè ge shí jiān duàn bāo hán tào cān ma?
Does this timing include a package deal?

 

2. Doing KTV Like a Pro

 

01. Choosing Songs

 

Choosing a song (點歌 diǎn gē) at KTV is a no-brainer. Karaoke machines offer a wide selection of songs in different languages and genres.

 

Here are a few ways of searching for songs:

搜索 (sōu suǒ) · use the search function;

分類 (fēn lèi) · browse through the categories;

歌手 (gē shǒu) · browse through the singers;

排行榜 (pái háng bǎng) · browse the top charts

語言 (yǔ yán) · browse by the language

 

If you enjoy singing, you probably have your own list of favorite songs. Sharing playlists is also a good way to make friends and bond over music:

 

歌單
gē dān
playlist

 

02. Singing Modes

 

When it comes to KTV, Chinese people take it very seriously and often sing with impressive skill. If you're not confident in your singing abilities, use the 原唱 (yuán chàng) function to let the original singer lead while you sing along.

 

原唱
yuán chàng
to sing with the original singer's voice in the background

 

And once you've gained some experience and started feeling like a karaoke pro, challenge yourself by singing without the original voice in the background.

 

伴唱
bàn chàng
to sing without the original singer's voice in the background

 

03. KTV Rules

 

It's essential to respect each other's song choices and take turns selecting songs. Everyone has different musical tastes, so letting everyone have their moment to shine is key. Avoid being a mic hog (麥霸 mài bà) and don't monopolize the microphone at the KTV party. It's also not polite to cut off (切歌 qiē gē) someone else's song to sing their own.

 

切歌
qiē gē
to cut off someone else's song

麥霸
mài bà
mic lord, mic hog

 

3. KTV Phrases

 

Once inside your private KTV room, the real fun kicks off! Here are some useful phrases you can use:

 

你唱得真好!
Nǐ chàng de zhēn hǎo!
You sing really well!

你先唱吧。
Nǐ xiān chàng ba.
You sing first.

我們一起唱!
Wǒ men yī qǐ chàng!
Let's sing together!

你想唱什么?
Nǐ xiǎng chàng shén me?
What do you want to sing?

 

BONUS

Take it Further

 

KTV is a fantastic way to improve your Mandarin! Here are some easy Chinese songs you can sing at karaoke:

 

《月亮代表我的心》

This song is a classic love song. The memorable lyrics are easy to sing along to, even for beginners.

《月亮代表我的心》
"Yuè liang Dài biǎo Wǒ de Xīn"

"The Moon Represents My Heart"
Search for: 鄧麗君 (Dèng Lì jūn)

 

《小蘋果》

It's a catchy and fun song from 2014 with easy lyrics, perfect for everyone to sing along and enjoy.

《小蘋果》
"Xiǎo Píng guǒ"
"Little Apple"
Search for: 筷子兄弟 (Kuài zi Xiōng dì)

 

《告白氣球》

A karaoke session isn't complete without a Jay Chou song. The song's romantic lyrics, coupled with its catchy melody, make it a popular choice.

《告白氣球》
"Gào bái qì qiú"
"Love Confession"
Search for: 周杰倫 (Zhōu Jié lún)

 

《平凡之路》

In KTV sessions this song is a go-to choice for KTV and a favorite choice for both solo performances and group sing-alongs.

《平凡之路》
"Píng fán zhī Lù"
"The Ordinary Road"
Search for: 樸樹 (Pǔ Shù)

 

《對不起, 我的中文不好》

This catchy song captures the common struggles of language learners and is a favorite in KTV sessions among foreigners.

《對不起, 我的中文不好》
"Duì bù qǐ, Wǒ de Zhōng wén Bù Hǎo"
"Sorry, My Chinese is Not Good"
Search for: Transition

 

來源：That's Mandarin
編輯：萬月英