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表演 (biǎo yǎn) — to perform; to act; to put on a show; to demonstrate (a skill)

Definition

表演 covers both the act of performing (a show, a skill) and the noun sense 'performance'. It's broader than 演 (which focuses on acting a role) and 演出 (a staged event). Don't confuse with 表现, which means how someone behaves or shows a quality.

verb
to performto actto put on a showto demonstrate (a skill)
Measure word · 场

Examples

  • 表演。
    Tā hěn xǐ huan zài dà jiā miàn qián biǎo yǎn jié mù.
    She really likes to perform shows in front of everyone.
  • 表演。
    Tā míng tiān huì zài wǎn huì shàng biǎo yǎn yí gè jié mù.
    He will perform a show at the party tomorrow.
  • 表演。
    Wǒ jué de tā biǎo yǎn dé hěn hǎo.
    I think he performed very well.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

表biǎoshow
演yǎnact

“表” and “演” join showing and acting into a performance.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
寅
寅yín演yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

演 pairs 氵 (water) with 寅, which gives the sound yín.

Open 演 →
Appears in
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