TongTong
Sign in

谢幕 (xiè mù) — to take a curtain call (respond to applause after a performance)

Definition

The verb for performers stepping out to bow and acknowledge the audience's applause after a show. Figuratively, it can mean a graceful, final exit from a role or stage of life.

verb
to take a curtain call (respond to applause after a performance)

Examples

  • ，谢幕。
    Yǎn chū jié shù hòu, quán tǐ yǎn yuán yì qǐ xiè mù.
    After the performance ended, all the performers took a curtain call together.
  • ，谢幕。
    Guān zhòng rè liè gǔ zhǎng, zhǐ huī liǎng cì xiè mù.
    The audience applauded warmly, and the conductor took a curtain call twice.
  • ，。
    Tā xiè le sān cì mù, zhǎng shēng hái shì bù tíng.
    He took a curtain call three times, but the applause still didn't stop.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

谢xièthank
幕mùcurtain

谢 (thank) and 幕 (curtain) together name performers acknowledging applause after a show.

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 謝; 谢 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword; speech
Sound part声符shēngfú
射
射shè謝xiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 謝 pairs 言 (word; speech) with 射, which gives the sound. The simplified 谢 is a written form of this character.

Open 谢 →

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
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò幕mù
Same sound today

幕 combines 莫 above 巾 (cloth); 莫 gives the sound.

Open 幕 →
Appears in
Dance & Performance

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