Definition
拍板 is a compound verb that literally means 'to clap a board'; its main modern sense is 'to make the final decision', coming from the image of a gavel. Unlike the general verb 拍 (pāi, to pat/clap/take photos), 拍板 is limited to metaphorical uses including the film sense 'to clap the clapperboard'. It is a separable verb (离合词), allowing insertion between 拍 and 板 (e.g., 拍了一次板).
verb
to make the final decisionto give the go-ahead(film) to clap the clapperboard (to mark a take)(music) to beat time with clappers
Examples
- ，。Lǎobǎn pāi le yí cì bǎn, xiàngmù jiù zhèngshì qǐdòng le.The boss gave the final decision, and the project officially started.
- 拍板，。Dǎoyǎn pāi bǎn hòu, yǎnyuán mǎshàng kāishǐ biǎoyǎn.After the director clapped the clapperboard, the actors immediately started performing.
- 拍板，。Tā yìbiān chànggē yìbiān pāi bǎn, jiézòu fēicháng zhǔn.He beat time with clappers while singing, and the rhythm was very accurate.
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