Definition
怯场 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to have stage fright' — the nervousness people feel when performing or speaking in front of an audience. The verb 怯 splits from the noun 场 when you add measure words, aspects, or durations between them (e.g., 怯过场 'have had stage fright before', 怯了场 'got stage fright'). It can be used both literally (on stage) and figuratively (in any high-pressure public situation).
v.o.
to have stage frightto get nervous performing or speaking in public
Examples
- ，怯场。Dì yī cì shàng tái yǎnjiǎng, tā yǒudiǎn qiè cháng.She had a bit of stage fright when giving her first speech on stage.
- ，。Suīrán liànxí le hěn duō biàn, kě tā háishì qiè le chǎng.Even though he practiced many times, he still got stage fright.
- ，。Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu qiè guò chǎng, bù zhīdào wèishénme jīntiān zhème jǐnzhāng.I've never had stage fright before — I don't know why I'm so nervous today.
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