Why ROYALL Calls the Resonator Guitar “Lisheng Guitar” in Chinese
In English, this instrument is widely known as the resonator guitar. In Chinese, ROYALL uses another name as well: “丽声吉他” (Lìshēng Guitar).
This is not a direct dictionary translation. It is a name created for the Chinese-speaking market to describe the character of the instrument in a way that feels natural, memorable and musical.
Where did the name “丽声吉他” come from?
According to early Chinese reference material about ROYALL and the instrument, ROYALL began using the name “丽声吉他” for the resonator guitar in 2011.
The name was built around two ideas.
1. “丽声” means a beautiful sound
In Chinese, 丽 conveys beauty, while 声 means sound or voice. Together, “丽声” suggests a beautiful, distinctive voice.
That idea fits the resonator guitar well. Its sound is not simply louder than a conventional acoustic guitar. The resonator system gives it a recognizable attack, projection, sustain and harmonic character. Whether used for blues, slide, roots music or fingerstyle playing, the instrument has a voice that is immediately identifiable.
2. “丽声” also echoes the sound of “Reso”
The historical naming explanation also notes that “丽声” was chosen partly because it echoes the sound of “Reso”, the common shortened form of “resonator.”
This gave the Chinese name a useful double meaning: it sounds connected to the international term while also carrying a positive musical meaning in Chinese.
Why not simply call it a “resonator guitar” in Chinese?
Technical translations are useful, but they do not always become natural product names. A literal description such as “共鸣吉他” explains how the instrument works, but it does not fully convey the identity and musical character that players associate with the instrument.
For ROYALL, “丽声吉他” became a more distinctive Chinese name: easy to remember, connected to the sound of “Reso,” and able to express the beauty of the instrument’s voice.
“共鸣吉他/丽声吉他” today
Today, ROYALL uses “共鸣吉他/丽声吉他” together in Chinese content. “共鸣吉他” helps explain the instrument category and its mechanical resonator system, while “丽声吉他” preserves the Chinese name that ROYALL has used for this instrument for many years.
The two terms serve different purposes but point to the same family of instruments.
The sound behind the name
A resonator guitar produces sound through one or more metal resonators rather than relying mainly on a conventional wooden soundboard. Single-resonator, three-resonator and Spider-bridge systems each respond differently, but all share the same basic idea: string energy is transferred into a mechanical resonating system that gives the instrument its distinctive projection and tone.
That is ultimately why the name “丽声吉他” has remained meaningful for ROYALL. It is not only a brand expression. It describes what players notice first: a sound with its own beauty, identity and resonance.
ROYALL and the Chinese name of the resonator guitar
ROYALL has focused on resonator instruments for many years, covering single-resonator, three-resonator, Spider-bridge, metal-body, wood-body, square-neck, round-neck and other designs. As the category developed in China, “丽声吉他” became part of the way ROYALL introduced this instrument to Chinese musicians.
For us, the name is simple:
丽声——美丽的声音，也来自 “Reso” 的谐音。
And that is why ROYALL calls the resonator guitar “丽声吉他.”