Which one is correct, "I can play erhu" or "I can play the erhu"? and why? We usually add "the" before the instrument, like when we say " I can play the guitar". while I heard that when we talked abou

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刘旭

Which one is correct, "I can play erhu" or "I can play the erhu"? and why? We usually add "the" before the instrument, like when we say " I can play the guitar". while I heard that when we talked about Chinese instruments, we don’t use “the” before it. Is it correct?

Feb 25, 2020 4:31 AM

Answers · 4

I am not aware of a special rule regarding using “the” for Chinese instruments. For other instruments, at least in American English, using “the” is optional. “I can play [the] guitar,” “I can play [the] piano,” “I can play [the] oboe” — all sound equally natural. It seems to me that either way is fine for the erhu or other Chinese instruments as well.

February 25, 2020

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