<p>The dictionary takes extra caution and says it's the membrane in the ear, because 鼓膜 literally means "drum membrane", which might be taken by someone as the membrane on a real drum. </p>

<p>In real usage, however, 鼓膜 is just the eardrum. The membrane on a drum instrument, or the drum head, is called 鼓皮.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-20T13:20:29.730Z
Any examples/excerpts/quotes/etc?
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-20T14:52:23.857Z
@user3306356  You can find lots of examples by searching 鼓皮 and 鼓膜 on line.
Colin McLarty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-20T07:56:32.947Z
2015-01-20T07:56:32.947Z
Wang Dingwei
<p>耳膜and 鼓膜 refer to same thing.
膜，membrane。耳膜，get its name from the position of it. 鼓膜，get its name from its way of working--like the leather cover of a drum.
《高级汉语词典》：耳膜：鼓膜。
and translation to
耳膜：eardrum；
鼓膜: tympanic membrane. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-21T15:16:04.570Z
2015-01-21T15:16:04.570Z
JiaoYu老师
<p>鼓膜 is a medical terms, translated from Western world. It is seldom said in casual conversation.  Say 耳膜 instead.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-03T04:44:09.687Z
2015-02-03T04:44:09.687Z
OmniBus
<p>What's the difference between: 耳膜 and 鼓膜?</p>

<p>Apparently they both check out to eardrum in English.</p>

<p>汉语大辞典, even, defines 耳膜 as</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>耳中鼓膜。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Can 鼓膜 be used in other places then?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-20T07:26:40.927Z
no, 鼓膜 is just means eardrum, doesn't have other meanings
biubiubiu
<translation><meaning><usage>
Meaning/Usage/Translation: 耳膜 vs. 鼓膜?
# Meaning/Usage/Translation: 耳膜 vs. 鼓膜?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-20)

What's the difference between: 耳膜 and 鼓膜?

Apparently they both check out to eardrum in English.

汉语大辞典, even, defines 耳膜 as

> 耳中鼓膜。

Can 鼓膜 be used in other places then?

**Tags:** translation, meaning, usage

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: no, 鼓膜 is just means eardrum, doesn't have other meanings  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

The dictionary takes extra caution and says it's the membrane in the ear, because 鼓膜 literally means "drum membrane", which might be taken by someone as the membrane on a real drum.

In real usage, however, 鼓膜 is just the eardrum. The membrane on a drum instrument, or the drum head, is called 鼓皮.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Any examples/excerpts/quotes/etc?  
> **username_3**: @user3306356  You can find lots of examples by searching 鼓皮 and 鼓膜 on line.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-01-21. Score: 4

耳膜and 鼓膜 refer to same thing.
膜，membrane。耳膜，get its name from the position of it. 鼓膜，get its name from its way of working--like the leather cover of a drum.
《高级汉语词典》：耳膜：鼓膜。
and translation to
耳膜：eardrum；
鼓膜: tympanic membrane.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2015-02-03. Score: 0

鼓膜 is a medical terms, translated from Western world. It is seldom said in casual conversation. Say 耳膜 instead.


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