HSK · Level 18
135 words
Chinese word
小丑
Pronunciation
Pinyinxiǎo chǒu
Meaning
- nounclown
Example
他不想被当成小丑。tā bù xiǎng bèi dàng chéng xiáo chǒu
He doesn't want to be seen as a clown.
More examples
他的演出让他看起来像个小丑，观众又笑又心疼。tā de yǎn chū ràng tā kàn qǐ lái xiàng gè xiáo chǒu guān zhòng yòu xiào yòu xīn téng
His performance made him look like a clown, and the audience both laughed and felt sorry for him.
Core concept
A figure made ridiculous for an audience, either by performing comedy or by being placed in the role of the fool.
Common phrases
小丑角色xiáo chǒu jué sè
clown role
成为小丑chéng wéi xiáo chǒu
become a clown
被当作小丑bèi dàng zuò xiáo chǒu
be treated as a clown
Similar words
笑柄xiào bǐng: A person or thing that people treat as something to laugh at.
喜剧演员xǐ jù yǎn yuán: An actor who performs in comedies or plays to make an audience laugh.
滑稽演员huá jī yǎn yuán: A performer who specializes in humorous acting for an audience.
Definition in Chinese
指在舞台或表演中穿着夸张、化浓妆并用滑稽动作或言语逗观众发笑的表演者；也可指被当作笑柄的人。zhǐ zài wǔ tái huò biáo yǎn zhōng chuān zhe kuā zhāng huà nóng zhuāng bìng yòng huá jī dòng zuò huò yán yǔ dòu guān zhòng fā xiào de biáo yán zhě yě kě zhǐ bèi dàng zuò xiào bǐng de rén
Word origin
The term 小丑 (xiǎochǒu, "clown") combines 小 (xiǎo, "small") with 丑 (chǒu, "comic opera role"), drawing on the traditional opera character rather than the everyday adjective meaning ugly.
Usage tips
- English speakers may expect the word to refer only to a circus performer, but everyday Chinese also uses it for a person made into a public joke.
Other meanings
- laughingstocknoun
Related words
- 小丑演员xiáo chǒu yǎn yuánclown actornoun
- 小丑化xiǎo chǒu huàturn into a clownverb