芭蕾舞剧 (bā lěi wǔ jù) — ballet (as a theatrical performance; a ballet production)

Definition

noun
ballet (as a theatrical performance; a ballet production)
Measure word · 部

Examples

  • 芭蕾舞剧。
    Jīn wǎn wǒ men qù kàn yì chǎng bā lěi wǔ jù.
    Tonight we are going to see a ballet performance.
  • 芭蕾舞剧。
    Zhè bù bā lěi wǔ jù gǎi biān zì jīng diǎn tóng huà gù shi.
    This ballet is adapted from a classic fairy tale.
  • ，芭蕾舞剧。
    Tā cóng xiǎo xué xí bā lěi, mèng xiǎng chéng wéi bā lěi wǔ jù de zhǔ jué.
    She has studied ballet since childhood and dreams of becoming the lead in a ballet.

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.

芭蕾ballet
芭bā蕾lěi
音译Transliteration
舞剧dance drama
舞wǔdance剧jùdrama
偏正Modifier + head

芭蕾 spells ballet, and 舞剧 is a dance drama; together they name a ballet production.

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
巴
巴bā芭
Same sound today

芭 pairs 艹, the grass top, with 巴 below to supply the sound.

Open 芭 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 蕾 →

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
舛舛chuǎnsteps, feet in convergent direction
Sound part声符shēngfú
無
無wú舞wǔ
Same sound today

舞 combines 舛, showing feet in converging steps, with 無 above. 無 gave the sound and also preserved its older meaning of dancing, so the shape points to dancing.

Open 舞 →

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 劇; 剧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
豦
豦jù劇jù
Same sound today

The traditional form 劇 pairs 豦, which gives the sound, with 刀, a knife; the simplified 剧 is a later shorthand.

Open 剧 →

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