反串 (fǎn chuàn) — (verb) to play a role outside one's usual type, especially cross-gender performance in opera or theater; (verb, extended) to temporarily take on a non-customary role or identity
Definition
In Chinese opera and theater, 反串 means an actor plays a role outside their usual type — most famously a male actor taking a female role (旦角), as in Beijing opera.
verb
to play a role outside one's usual typeespecially cross-gender performance in opera or theater(verb, extended) to temporarily take on a non-customary role or identity
Examples
- 反串。Tā zài nà bù diàn yǐng lǐ fǎn chuàn le yí gè nǚ jué sè.In that movie, he played a female role (cross-dressing/cross-gender).
- 反串。Jīng jù zhōng yǒu hěn duō nán yǎn yuán fǎn chuàn dàn jué.In Beijing opera, many male actors play female roles (dan roles).
- ,反串。Jīn tiān de wǎn huì shàng, tā fǎn chuàn le yí gè gǔ dài jiāng jūn.At today's party, he dressed up as an ancient general (a role outside his usual persona).
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.