唱主角 (chàng zhǔ jiǎ) — to play the leading role (in a play, opera, etc.); (figuratively) to be the key player or central figure (in a project, event, etc.)

Definition

A vivid idiom meaning 'to play the leading role' — literally singing the main part on stage, and used figuratively for being the key player or central figure in any project or event.

verb
to play the leading role (in a play, opera, etc.)(figuratively) to be the key player or central figure (in a project, event, etc.)

Examples

  • ，唱主角。
    Zài zhè bù xīn jīng jù lǐ, tā chàng zhǔ jiǎ.
    In this new Peking opera, he plays the leading role.
  • 唱主角，。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù yóu tā chàng zhǔ jiǎ, qí tā rén pèi hé.
    She takes the leading role in this project, and others assist.
  • ，。
    Zài zhè bù xì lǐ, tā chàng le sān cì zhǔ jué.
    In this play, he played the lead role three times.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

唱chàngplay
主角leading role
主zhǔmain角jiǎorole
偏正Modifier + head

唱 means to play, and 主角 means the leading role; the sense is being the key figure.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
昌
昌chāng唱chàng
Same sound today

The 口 part points to the mouth, while 昌 shows how the character is pronounced.

Open 唱 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 角 is a picture of a horn.

Open 角 →

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