In music, a crotchet is a note that lasts one beat when a bar is counted 1-2-3-4. It continues for a quarter of the length of a semibreve, the long note that can fill a whole bar.

In music在音樂裡, a crotchet一個crotchet is a note that lasts one beat是持續一拍的音符 when a bar is counted 1-2-3-4當一小節是1-2-3-4數的時候. It它 continues for a quarter of the length of a semibreve長度是semibreve(全音符)的四分之一, the long note that can fill a whole bar也就是那種可以填滿整個小節的長音符。

This is the British name. American books call the same note a quarter note, and that is also what most Taiwan music classes write as 四分音符. You will meet crotchet in British graded exams and in older British method books.

This這個名稱 is the British name是英式的說法. American books美式教材 call the same note a quarter note把同一個音符叫做quarter note, and that而這 is also what most Taiwan music classes write as 四分音符也就是大多數台灣音樂課寫成的四分音符. You你 will meet crotchet會遇到crotchet in British graded exams and in older British method books在英式檢定考和比較舊的英式教材裡。

Though actually, the name has nothing to do with crotch, the body word. It comes from an old French word for a small hook, because early written notes had a little hook on the stem. In today’s writing that hook sits on the quicker note (the quaver, or eighth note), but the old name stayed on the crotchet.

Though actually不過其實, the name這個名字 has nothing to do with crotch, the body word跟身體部位的crotch這個字一點關係也沒有. It它 comes from an old French word for a small hook來自一個古法文裡指小鉤子的字, because因為 early written notes早期寫下來的音符 had a little hook on the stem符桿上有個小鉤子. In today’s writing在現代的記譜裡, that hook那個鉤子 sits on the quicker note落在更快的那個音符上 (the quaver, or eighth note像quaver或八分音符), but old不過舊 the old name stayed on the crotchet舊名字卻留在了crotchet(四分音符)上。

There is also an older, rarer meaning: a strange little idea or habit that someone will not drop. That old “odd idea” sense is how English later made crotchety.

There is也有 also an older, rarer meaning一個更老、更少見的意思: a strange little idea or habit that someone will not drop指一個人放不下的怪念頭或怪習慣. That那個 old “odd idea” sense古老的「怪念頭」意思 is how English later made crotchety就是後來英文造出crotchety(脾氣古怪的)這個字的來源。

In class, the music sense is the one you need.

In class在課堂上, the music sense音樂的意思 is the one you need才是你需要的。