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客串 (kè chuàn) — (of a non-professional) to make a guest appearance; to appear as a guest performer; (by extension) to temporarily participate in a role or activity as a non-specialist

Definition

A verb for someone outside the main group (usually a professional or specialist) stepping in briefly to perform or take part — a guest appearance. Implies a temporary, non-regular role.

verb
(of a non-professional) to make a guest appearanceto appear as a guest performer(by extension) to temporarily participate in a role or activity as a non-specialist

Examples

  • 客串。
    Tā zài zhè bù diàn yǐng lǐ kè chuàn le yí gè xiǎo jué sè.
    He made a guest appearance as a minor role in this movie.
  • 。
    Zhè wèi zhù míng gē shǒu jīn wǎn huì kè chuàn wǒ men de yǎn chàng huì.
    This famous singer will make a guest appearance at our concert tonight.
  • ，客串。
    Wǒ suī rán shì yè yú xuǎn shǒu, dàn zhè cì bǐ sài wǒ jué dìng kè chuàn yí xià.
    Even though I'm an amateur, I've decided to make a guest appearance in this competition.

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.

客kèguest
串chuànappear in a role

客 means guest and 串 means to appear in a role, giving a guest performance.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè客kè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

Open 客 →

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

The shape 串 is a picture of objects strung together.

Open 串 →
Appears in
Film & Theater

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