To flow outward and extend, as water spreading from a source.
To perform, act, play a role, or present a show. Water (氵) flows through a winding pattern (寅), like a drama unfolding on stage.
演
Common Usage & Traps
- 表演 — performance, to perform
- 演员 — actor, performer
- 演出 — to perform, performance
- 演电影 — to act in a movie
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演一个表演表演一个节目演 cannot take 表演 as its object. Use 表演 as the verb, or say 演一个角色.
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演唱歌唱歌演 does not collocate with 唱歌. Use 唱歌 alone, or 表演唱歌 if you mean perform a song.
What is the difference between 演 and 唱 in Chinese?
演 means to act or perform a role; 唱 means to sing. They are different actions.
演 focuses on acting or performing a role, as in a play or movie. 唱 is specifically for singing. You can 演 a character, but you 唱 a song. They combine in 演唱, which means to sing in a performance.
| Dimension | 演 | 唱 |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | act, perform | sing |
| Typical object | 角色, 戏, 电影 | 歌, 歌曲 |
| Example | 他演了一个医生。 | 她唱了一首中文歌。 |
Can 演 and 做 be used interchangeably?
No. 演 means to act or perform; 做 means to do or make. They are not interchangeable.
演 is used for performing arts, such as acting in a play or movie. 做 is a general verb for doing or making things. For example, 演电影 means act in a movie, but 做电影 would mean make a movie as a producer.
| Dimension | 演 | 做 |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | act, perform | do, make |
| Usage | performance-related | general actions |
| Example | 他在演一个坏人。 | 他在做作业。 |
Appears in Stories 1 story
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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因为在那儿可以一边喝茶，一边看 表演 ，看唱歌、跳舞什么的。
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