Chinese word

演戏

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǎn xì

Meaning

  • verbact

Example

别在我面前演戏。bié zài wǒ miàn qián yǎn xì

Don't act in front of me.

Illustration for 演戏 (act)

More examples

他常常演戏给同事看，想讨好领导。tā cháng cháng yǎn xì gěi tóng shì kàn xiǎng táo hǎo líng dǎo

He often puts on an act for his coworkers because he wants to please his boss.

Core concept

A person presents a chosen role, emotion, or manner as a performance for others, on stage or in everyday life.

Common phrases

  • 在镜头前演戏zài jìng tóu qián yǎn xì

    act in front of the camera

  • 演戏给别人看yǎn xì gěi bié rén kàn

    act for others to see

  • 为了利益演戏wèi le lì yì yǎn xì

    act for profit

Similar words

表演biáo yǎn: Present a song, role, or other performance to an audience on stage or through media.
扮演bàn yǎn: Act as a particular person or character by following that role's words and behavior.
假装jiǎ zhuāng: Hide the truth or one's real feelings by appearing to be different from reality.
装作zhuāng zuò: Show an outward feeling or state that is not genuinely present.

Definition in Chinese

以表演或扮演的方式表现某种行为、情绪或角色，既可指正式的舞台或影视表演，也可指日常中故意装出某种样子。yǐ biáo yǎn huò bàn yǎn de fāng shì biǎo xiàn móu zhǒng xíng wéi qíng xù huò jué sè jì kě zhǐ zhèng shì de wǔ tái huò yǐng shì biáo yǎn yě kě zhǐ rì cháng zhōng gù yì zhuāng chū móu zhǒng yàng zi

Word origin

演 (yǎn, "perform") + 戏 (xì, "drama") forms a verb that refers to presenting a drama and extends naturally to putting on a role or manner in ordinary life.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, applying this word to someone's behavior often sounds accusatory because it suggests deliberate insincerity rather than a simple change of mood.

Other meanings

  • pretendverb
  • put on a playverb

Related words

Word lists with this word