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吗？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.
A man passes by two karaoke booths at Beijing Yintai Center in Beijing. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/China Daily]
1. Booking a Room
You can book a KTV room directly at the venue or use the app 大众点评 (Dà zhòng Diǎn píng) for online reservations. Just type "KTV" in the search bar, and choose a location that suits you.
大众点评Dà zhòng Diǎn píngDazhong 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)豪华包 (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.
欢唱时间huān chàng shí jiānduration of stay
NOTE
When your time is up, you can ask to extend your session (续时 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 cānpackage deals
NOTE
It's worth checking out the package deals options by asking:
这个时间段包含套餐吗?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 (点歌 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;
分类 (fēn lèi) · browse through the categories;
歌手 (gē shǒu) · browse through the singers;
排行榜 (pái háng bǎng) · browse the top charts
语言 (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:
歌单gē dānplaylist
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 chàngto 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 chàngto 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 (麦霸 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 gēto cut off someone else's song
麦霸mài bàmic 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.
我们一起唱!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: 邓丽君 (Dèng Lì jūn)
《小苹果》
It's a catchy and fun song from 2014 with easy lyrics, perfect for everyone to sing along and enjoy.
《小苹果》"Xiǎo Píng guǒ""Little Apple"Search for: 筷子兄弟 (Kuài zi Xiōng dì)
《告白气球》
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.
《告白气球》"Gào bái qì qiú""Love Confession"Search for: 周杰伦 (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: 朴树 (Pǔ Shù)
《对不起, 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.
《对不起, 我的中文不好》"Duì bù qǐ, Wǒ de Zhōng wén Bù Hǎo""Sorry, My Chinese is Not Good"Search for: Transition
来源：That's Mandarin编辑：万月英