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话剧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
话剧huàjùstage playHSK 4, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #14277, Medium
话剧huàjùmodern dramaHSK 4, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #14277, Medium
huàjù(hua4ju4)hua ju T4
  1. 1stage play
  2. 2modern drama
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March 24, 2026

话剧(話劇)huàjù(hua4ju4)

话剧 (huàjù) refers to a type of stage play or modern drama that is typically performed in a theater. This genre emphasizes dialogue and character development, often reflecting contemporary social issues and human experiences.

Strokes18Frequency#14277DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

话剧 has a significant place in Chinese culture, particularly since the early 20th century when it became a medium for political and social commentary. The development of modern dramas often reflects changing societal values and challenges.

Memory tip

Think of 话 (huà) as 'talk' or 'speech,' and 剧 (jù) as 'drama.' Visualize a stage where actors engage in lively conversations, bringing stories to life through their dialogue, making it a memorable 'talking drama.'

Meanings of 话剧

huàjù(hua4ju4)
1stage play
2modern drama
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 话剧

话剧Simplified
話劇Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
台Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 话剧

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Podcast: 话剧

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AI study notes for 话剧

Quick Contrast

话剧 (huàjù) vs 戏剧 (xìjù) — choose 话剧 for modern plays emphasizing dialogue, while 戏剧 encompasses all forms of drama, including traditional and operatic.

Usage Notes

Ensure to use 话剧 in contexts related to theater and performances, as it is more formal than simply saying 'play.' Common collocations include 观看话剧 (to watch a play) and 话剧表演 (drama performance). Be careful with pronunciation, as the tones are critical.

HSK Study Tips

Though 话剧 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to arts and culture. Focus on understanding its usage in sentences about theater and performances, and try to use it in discussions about your favorite plays.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 话剧 with other forms of drama, such as 戏剧. For example, saying '我喜欢看戏剧' (I like to watch drama) instead of '我喜欢看话剧' is incorrect when specifically referring to modern plays.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 话剧

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Component characters

话huàspoken words
HSK 18 strokes讠
View full entry
剧jùdrama
HSK 610 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say stage play in Chinese

“stage play” in Chinese is话剧huàjù

话剧 (huàjù) refers to a type of stage play or modern drama that is typically performed in a theater. This genre emphasizes dialogue and character development, often reflecting contemporary social issues and human experiences.

When to use 话剧

Ensure to use 话剧 in contexts related to theater and performances, as it is more formal than simply saying 'play.' Common collocations include 观看话剧 (to watch a play) and 话剧表演 (drama performance). Be careful with pronunciation, as the tones are critical.

话剧 or something close to it

话剧 (huàjù) vs 戏剧 (xìjù) — choose 话剧 for modern plays emphasizing dialogue, while 戏剧 encompasses all forms of drama, including traditional and operatic.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 话剧 with other forms of drama, such as 戏剧. For example, saying '我喜欢看戏剧' (I like to watch drama) instead of '我喜欢看话剧' is incorrect when specifically referring to modern plays.

Write 话剧

话
剧

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Cultural Notes for 话剧

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, drama can encompass a broad range of formats including musicals and films, while 话剧 specifically denotes spoken plays without music, emphasizing dialogue-driven storytelling.

Frequently asked questions about 话剧

话剧 specifically refers to modern spoken plays, while 戏剧 encompasses a broader range of dramatic works including operas and traditional theater.

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