唐五代至北宋前期,词的字句不多,称为令词。北宋后期,出现了篇幅较长、字句较繁的词,称为慢词。令、慢是词的两大类别。从令词发展到慢词,还经过一个不长不短的形式,称为“引”或“近”。明朝人开始把令词称为小令,引、近称为中调,慢词列入长调。另外还有称为大词、小词的,小词即小令,大词即慢词。 Tang and Five Dynasties to the early Northern Song Dynasty, the word word is not much, known as the Lingzhi. The late Northern Song Dynasty, there has been a longer length, more complicated words, known as the slow words. Order, slow is the word two categories. From the development of the word to the slow word, but also after a not long form, known as “lead ” or “near ”. The Ming dynasty began to make the word small order, cited, known as the middle tone, slow words included in the long tone. There are also known as big words, small words, small words that order, the word that slow words.