献艺 (xiàn yì) — to perform (one's art) for an audience; to show… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning to display one's artistic skill for an audience, used for performers, dancers, musicians. Stronger and more ceremonial than ordinary 'perform' — think stage show or gala, not casual everyday playing.

verb

to perform (one's art) for an audienceto show one's talent in a formal performance

Examples

献艺。
Tā jīn wǎn huì zài yīn yuè tīng xiàn yì.
He will perform his art at the concert hall tonight.
献艺，。
Zhè wèi lǎo yì shù jiā wèi guān zhòng xiàn yì, yíng dé le rè liè de zhǎng shēng.
This old artist performed for the audience and won warm applause.
。
Tā zài zhè ge wǔ tái shàng xiàn guò hěn duō cì yì.
She has performed many times on this stage.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

献, offer, acts on 艺, skill, giving present one's art.

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 獻; 献 is its simplified writing.

鬳犬獻

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

鬳

鬳yàn獻xiàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獻 combines 鬳, which gives the sound, with 犬, a dog. The simplified 献 is a later shorthand.

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

艹乙艺

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

乙

乙yǐ艺yì

Same sound today

In 艺, the top 艹 points to plants, and the lower 乙 gives the sound.

Appears in

Art & Fine Arts Dance & Performance

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