Chinese–EnglishWith examples

表演

biǎo yǎn · biao yan

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Measure word: 场 chǎng

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. play
  2. show
  3. performance
  4. exhibition
  5. to perform
  6. to act
  7. to demonstrate
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

A show in the park

  1. Dengdeng

    公园(gōngyuán)里(lǐ)有(yǒu)表演(biǎoyǎn)！快(kuài)去(qù)看(kàn)！

    There is a show in the park! Let us go and watch!

  2. Liangliang

    什么(shénme)表演(biǎoyǎn)？

    What kind of show?

  3. Dengdeng

    一个人(yīgèrén)表演(biǎoyǎn)唱歌(chànggē)，还有(háiyǒu)人(rén)表演(biǎoyǎn)跳舞(tiàowǔ)。

    One person is singing, and others are dancing.

  4. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)也(yě)想(xiǎng)表演(biǎoyǎn)，可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)什么(shénme)都(dōu)不(bù)会(huì)。

    I want to perform too, but I cannot do anything.

  5. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)可以(kěyǐ)表演(biǎoyǎn)睡觉(shuìjiào)啊(a)，这个(zhège)你(nǐ)最(zuì)会(huì)了(le)！

    You can perform sleeping. You are the best at that!

  6. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)主意(zhǔyi)！我(wǒ)现在(xiànzài)就(jiù)表演(biǎoyǎn)！

    Good idea! I will perform right now!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

比(bǐ)起(qǐ)歌(gē)舞(wǔ)伎(jì)，我(wǒ)更(gèng)喜(xǐ)欢(huan)能(néng)乐(yuè)表(biǎo)演(yǎn)，因(yīn)为(wèi)我(wǒ)觉(jué)得(de)后(hòu)者(zhě)比(bǐ)前(qián)者(zhě)优(yōu)雅(yǎ)。

I prefer Noh to Kabuki because I find the former to be more elegant than the latter.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by bekindtoall · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

演(yǎn)员(yuán)们(men)一(yì)边(biān)唱(chàng)，一(yì)边(biān)跳(tiào)，表(biǎo)演(yǎn)得(de)好(hǎo)极(jí)了(le)。

The performers danced whilst singing - they performed extremely well.

Tatoeba: Chinese by aeriph · English by aeriph · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
表
biǎo

exterior surface; family relationship via females

演
yǎn

to perform (a play etc); to stage (a show); (bound form) to develop; to play out; to carry out (a task)

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with BExplore words in context