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相声 (xiàng sheng) — crosstalk (traditional Chinese comic dialogue performance)

Definition

相声 is a traditional Chinese comic-dialogue performance, usually by two performers who joke and banter back and forth. As a culturally specific art form, "crosstalk" is the standard English term used in China.

noun
crosstalk (traditional Chinese comic dialogue performance)
Measure word · 段

Examples

  • 相声，。
    Wǒ zuó tiān qù jù chǎng kàn le xiàng sheng, tè bié yǒu yì si.
    I went to the theater yesterday to watch crosstalk; it was really interesting.
  • 相声。
    Zhè wèi xiàng sheng yǎn yuán de biǎo yǎn fēi cháng yōu mò.
    This crosstalk performer's performance is very humorous.
  • 相声。
    Tīng xiàng sheng kě yǐ liǎo jiě zhōng guó chuán tǒng wén huà.
    Listening to crosstalk can help you understand traditional Chinese culture.

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.

相xiāngappearance
声shēngvoice

The '相' (appearance) aspect specifies the '声' (voice), naming a comic vocal performance.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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 聲; 声 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
耳耳ěrear
Sound part声符shēngfú
殸
殸qìng聲shēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 聲 pairs 耳 (ear) with 殸 as a sound part; the simplified 声 is a shorthand and does not show those original parts.

Open 声 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Chinese Culture & CustomsDance & Performance

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