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角色 (jué sè) — role (in a play, film, or novel); character (in a story or game)

Definition

角色 (juésè) means the 'role' or 'character' a person plays — in a story, game, or organization. Compared to 身份 (identity/status) and 职能 (official function), 角色 emphasizes the part someone acts out or takes on, often with a sense of performance.

noun
role (in a play, film, or novel)character (in a story or game)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 角色。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ dān rèn zhòng yào jué sè.
    She holds an important role in the company.
  • 角色。
    Zhè ge jué sè de xìng gé hěn fù zá.
    This character's personality is very complex.
  • 角色？
    Nǐ zài zhè bù xì lǐ yǎn shén me jué sè?
    What role do you play in this play?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

角jiǎorole
色sècharacter

角 and 色 each refer to a character in a performance, together meaning role.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 角 is a picture of a horn.

Open 角 →

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

  • 爪爪zhuǎclaw; hand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

Open 色 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Film & Theater2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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