Chinese word

纪录片

Pronunciation

Pinyinjì lù piàn

Meaning

  • noundocumentary

Example

我昨天看了一部纪录片。wǒ zuó tiān kàn le yí bù jì lù piàn

I watched a documentary yesterday.

Illustration for 纪录片 (documentary)

More examples

该台播出了一系列关于环境问题的纪录片。gāi tái bō chū le yí xì liè guān yú huán jìng wèn tí de jì lù piàn

The station broadcast a series of documentaries about environmental issues.

Core concept

A recorded window onto real life that uses images, interviews, and stored materials to show how an event, issue, or person's story unfolds.

Common phrases

  • 看纪录片kàn jì lù piàn

    watch a documentary

  • 观看纪录片guān kàn jì lù piàn

    view a documentary

  • 纪录片导演jì lù piàn dáo yǎn

    documentary director

Similar words

电影diàn yǐng: A visual story created from a script and actors, whether long or short.
影片yǐng piàn: A broad term for a work made with moving images, from a film to a short piece.
节目jié mù: One television or radio item made for broadcast at a scheduled time.

Definition in Chinese

以事实为中心，通过录像、采访与档案资料再现某一事件、现象或人物生活的记录性影片或电视节目。yǐ shì shí wèi zhōng xīn tōng guò lù xiàng cái fǎng yǔ dàng àn zī liào zài xiàn mǒu yí shì jiàn xiàn xiàng huò rén wù shēng huó de jì lù xìng yǐng piàn huò diàn shì jié mù

Word origin

纪 (jì, "record") + 录 (lù, "record") + 片 (piàn, "film or piece") link the idea of recording with a visual work, giving the word its factual focus.

Usage tips

  • The measure word 部 (bù, "measure word for films and programs") commonly goes with this noun when counting films and television programs.

Other meanings

  • documentary programnoun

Opposites

  • 剧情片jù qíng piànfiction filmnoun

Word lists with this word