HSK · Level 36
120 words
Chinese word
对白
Pronunciation
Pinyinduì bái
Meaning
- noundialogue
Example
那场戏的对白大家都记得。nà chǎng xì de duì bái dà jiā dōu jì de
Everyone remembers the dialogue in that scene.
More examples
演员在排练时不断修改对白以贴合人物。yǎn yuán zài pái liàn shí bú duàn xiū gǎi duì bái yǐ tiē hé rén wù
During rehearsal, the actor kept revising the dialogue to suit the character.
Core concept
Words passed back and forth between speakers, especially the spoken lines that carry a scene.
Common phrases
背对白bèi duì bái
memorize lines
练习对白liàn xí duì bái
practice lines
写对白xiě duì bái
write dialogue
Similar words
台词tái cí: The words spoken by characters in a work, especially the lines written in its script.
对话duì huà: A back-and-forth exchange of words between two or more people.
旁白páng bái: Narration from outside a scene that gives information or describes a character's feelings.
Definition in Chinese
戏剧、影视或文学作品中，按顺序由人物说出的台词或对话段落，也可泛指现实中两人以上的有来有往的对话。xì jù yǐng shì huò wén xué zuò pǐn zhōng àn shùn xù yóu rén wù shuō chū de tái cí huò duì huà duàn luò yě kě fàn zhǐ xiàn shí zhōng liǎng rén yǐ shàng de yǒu lái yóu wǎng de duì huà
Word origin
对白 (duìbái, "dialogue") combines 对 (duì, "to face or respond to") + 白 (bái, "to speak"), presenting dialogue as words answered by another speaker.
Usage tips
- In Chinese film and theater, this word often labels the lines characters say, while in everyday contexts it can describe a lively back-and-forth, so context shows whether the setting is scripted.
Other meanings
- banternoun
- exchangenoun
Opposites
- 沉默chén mòsilencenoun
- 独白dú báimonologuenoun