TongTong
Sign in

桥段 (qiáo duàn) — (film/literature) trope, plot device, classic scene; (music) bridge

Definition

桥段 (qiáoduàn) names a recognizable, often repeated scene or device in film, TV, or novels — translated 'trope' or 'plot device'. In songwriting it means the 'bridge' section between verse and chorus.

noun
(film/literature) tropeplot deviceclassic scene(music) bridge

Examples

  • 桥段。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng yòng le hěn duō jīng diǎn de fù chóu qiáo duàn.
    This movie uses many classic revenge tropes.
  • 桥段。
    Zhè ge qiáo duàn zài wǒ de xiǎo shuō lǐ yě hěn cháng jiàn.
    This plot device is also very common in my novel.
  • 桥段。
    Nà shǒu gē de qiáo duàn xiě dé tè bié hǎo tīng.
    The bridge of that song is very well written.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

桥qiáobridge
段duànsegment

桥 'bridge' describes 段 'segment', a linking part used for a stock scene or trope.

Characters in this word

Most 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 橋; 桥 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
喬
喬qiáo橋qiáo
Same sound today

The traditional form 橋 pairs 木 (wood) with 喬 (qiáo), which gave the character its sound; the simplified 桥 is a later abbreviation.

Open 桥 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
殳殳shū
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng段duàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

段's shape shows 殳 as a hammer breaking a stone, with fragments flying off.

Open 段 →
Appears in
Film & Theater

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.