放映 (fàng yìng) — to show (a movie); to screen | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

放映 means to screen a film, focused on the venue or organizer showing the movie. Compared with 上映, it emphasizes the showing event itself rather than a film's release to the public.

verb

to show (a movie)to screen

Examples

放映。
Zhè jiā diàn yǐng yuàn jīng cháng fàng yìng jì lù piàn.
This cinema often screens documentaries.
放映。
Xià ge yuè huì fàng yìng yí bù xīn diàn yǐng.
Next month they will screen a new movie.
放映。
Zuó wǎn xué xiào fàng yìng le sān bù dòng huà piàn.
Last night the school screened three animated films.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

放fàngproject

The idea of 放, projecting, combines with 映, showing or reflecting, to mean to screen a film.

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.

方攵放

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action

Sound part声符shēngfú

方

方fāng放fàng

Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

日央映

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun

Sound part声符shēngfú

央

央yāng映yìng

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

映 pairs 日, the sun, with 央 as a sound element.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Film & Theater

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