剧 (jù) — drama, play, theatrical work (often used as a suffix in compound words)
Definition
As a standalone noun 剧 means 'drama' or 'theatrical work'; far more often it appears as a suffix forming compound genres like 话剧 (stage play) or 悲剧 (tragedy). When 剧 attaches to an adjective or emotion it intensifies it, as in 剧烈 (acute, severe).
noun
dramaplaytheatrical work (often used as a suffix in compound words)
Measure word · 部
Examples
- 剧。Zhè bù jù hěn hǎo kàn.This drama is very good.
- 。Tā xǐ huan kàn huà jù.He likes watching stage plays.
- 。Zhè shì yí bù bēi jù.This is a tragedy.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 劇; 剧 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
豦
豦jù劇jù
Same sound today
The traditional form 劇 pairs 豦, which gives the sound, with 刀, a knife; the simplified 剧 is a later shorthand.
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