Chinese word

表演

Pronunciation

Pinyinbiǎo yǎn

Meaning

  • verbperform

Example

他们在晚会上表演了新歌。tā men zài wǎn huì shàng biáo yǎn le xīn gē

They performed a new song at the party.

Illustration for 表演 (perform)

More examples

她在公司聚会上表演了一首歌，大家很喜欢。tā zài gōng sī jù huì shàng biáo yǎn le yì shǒu gē dà jiā hěn xǐ huān

She performed a song at the company party, and everyone enjoyed it.

Core concept

Puts a song, dance, skill, or role on display before an audience.

Common phrases

  • 在晚会上表演zài wǎn huì shàng biáo yǎn

    perform at a party

  • 表演一个节目biáo yǎn yí gè jié mù

    perform a routine

Similar words

演出yǎn chū: Develop the content and flow of a stage show or program.
演奏yǎn zòu: Play music using a musical instrument.
演唱yǎn chàng: Sing to an audience as a public performance.

Definition in Chinese

把歌唱、舞蹈、戏剧、杂技等节目或个人本领向观众展示出来的动作或过程，着眼于向他人披露表演内容。bǎ gē chàng wú dǎo xì jù zá jì děng jié mù huò gè rén bén lǐng xiàng guān zhòng zhǎn shì chū lái de dòng zuò huò guò chéng zhuó yǎn yú xiàng tā rén pī lù biáo yǎn nèi róng

Word origin

表 (biǎo, "show") + 演 (yǎn, "act out") forms a compound for making something visible through a staged or practiced display.

Usage tips

  • Chinese commonly places the presented item directly after this verb, so the verb-object pattern gives short, natural descriptions of event activities.

Other meanings

  • actverb
  • playverb
  • performancenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 表演者biáo yán zhěperformernoun
  • 表演家biáo yǎn jiāperforming artistnoun

Word lists with this word