This study investigates the emotional characteristics of the erhu and violin, focusing on the differences in emotional intensity. The experiment involved 25 participants categorizing the emotions and providing valence-arousal ratings for 14 musical excerpts. The results showed significant agreement between the two models, with the categorical emotions used to determine the emotional labels. A subsequent 9-point Likert comparison with 20 participants revealed that the instrument factor influenced emotional intensity. Overall, the violin conveyed more happiness, agitation, and calmness than the erhu, particularly for the Chinese-style excerpts. However, the sad emotional intensity was similar between the two instruments, contrary to the expectation that the erhu would convey sadder emotions. The performance factor had minimal impact on emotional intensity within the same instrument group, suggesting the inherent qualities of the erhu and violin were the primary drivers of the differences. Listeners more familiar with the instruments were likely to rate the violin higher in valence and arousal than the erhu. These findings contribute to understanding the expressive capabilities of the two instruments and highlight the instrument-specific emotional characteristics that shape the perceived emotional characteristics of music.