戏码 (xì mǎ) — (theatrical) program; repertoire (of traditiona…

Definition

Refers to the program or repertoire of a traditional Chinese opera performance — the list of plays being staged, not a single show. Often used for classic or well-known pieces still performed today.

noun

(theatrical) programrepertoire (of traditional Chinese opera)

Examples

戏码？
Jīn wǎn de xì mǎ yǒu nǎ xiē?
What are tonight's theatrical programs?
戏码。
Lǎo xì mí duì chuán tǒng xì mǎ fēi cháng shú xi.
Older opera fans are very familiar with traditional repertoires.
戏码。
Zhè chū xì mǎ yǐ jīng zài wǔ tái shàng yǎn le jǐ shí nián.
This theatrical piece has been performed on stage for decades.

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.

戏xìdrama

码mǎprogram

“戏” means drama, and “码” refers to a program or item, naming the plays in a repertoire.

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 戲; 戏 is its simplified writing.

䖒戈戲

Meaning part形符xíngfú

戈戈gēhalberd

Sound part声符shēngfú

䖒

䖒䖒戲xì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 戲, the shape combines 戈 (halberd) with 䖒, which gives the sound; the word originally meant an army's wing or flank. The simplified 戏 is a later shorthand, not the form described here.

Open 戏 →

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 碼; 码 is its simplified writing.

石馬碼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

石石shístone; rock

Sound part声符shēngfú

馬

馬mǎ碼mǎ

Same sound today

The traditional form 碼 pairs 石 (stone) with 馬 for its sound; the simplified 码 is a later shorthand.

Open 码 →