编导 (biān dǎo) — to write and direct (a play, film, TV show, etc.)

Definition

Refers to both the act of writing and directing a production and the person who does it. The role combines two jobs — the writing (编) and the directing (导) of a play, film, or show — rather than just one.

verb
to write and direct (a play, film, TV show, etc.)

Examples

  • 编导
    Tā biān dǎo le zhè bù huà jù, huò dé le hěn gāo de píng jià.
    He wrote and directed this play, receiving high praise.
  • 编导
    Zhè wèi dǎo yǎn shàn cháng biān dǎo dà xíng wǔ tái jù.
    This director is good at writing and directing large-scale stage plays.
  • 编导
    Tā bù jǐn biǎo yǎn, hái fù zé biān dǎo zhěng bù diàn yǐng.
    She not only acts but also is responsible for writing and directing the entire film.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

biāncompose
dǎodirect

编 means to compose or arrange, and 导 means to direct; together they describe writing and directing.

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 編; 编 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
biǎnbiān
Same sound today

The traditional form 編 pairs 糸 (thread), for knitting a book together, with 扁 as the sound part; the simplified 编 is only a shorthand.

Open 编 →

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 導; 导 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

The traditional form 導 pairs 道 (path) as the sound part with 寸 (hand), giving the sense of leading someone. The simplified 导 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 导 →

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