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演戏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
演戏yǎnxìto put on a playHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #4276, Very Hard
演戏yǎnxìto performHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #4276, Very Hard
演戏yǎnxìfig. to pretendHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #4276, Very Hard
演戏yǎnxìto feignHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #4276, Very Hard
yǎnxì(yan3xi4)yan xi T3
  1. 1to put on a play
  2. 2to perform
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March 24, 2026

演戏(演戲)yǎnxì(yan3xi4)

演戏 (yǎn xì) means 'to perform a play' or 'to act.' It is commonly used in contexts related to theater and drama, but it can also imply pretending or feigning certain emotions or behaviors in everyday life. The nuance of the term suggests not only the act of performing but also an element of artifice or insincerity in personal interactions.

Strokes20Frequency#4276DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, drama and performance have deep roots, with traditional forms like 京剧 (jīng jù, Peking opera) playing a significant role in cultural expression. 演戏 is not only about entertainment but also about conveying moral lessons and societal values.

Memory Tip

Think of 演 (yǎn) as 'to enact' with the radical '氵' (water) suggesting flow, like a flowing performance. The component 戏 (xì) looks like a stage with actors, reminding you that it relates to 'play' or 'drama.' Picture a river flowing with actors performing on a stage, helping you remember both pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 演戏

yǎnxì(yan3xi4)
1to put on a play
2to perform
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About 演戏

演戏Simplified
演戲Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI Study Notes for 演戏

Quick Contrast

表演 (biǎoyǎn) — use 演戏 (yǎn xì) specifically for theatrical contexts or when implying insincerity.

Usage Notes

演戏 is often used in both formal and informal contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar terms like '表演' (biǎo yǎn), which specifically refers to performances more broadly. Learners should also be mindful of the tone, as mispronouncing either character can change the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 演戏 is not an HSK word, it can be linked to HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to entertainment and performance, such as '电影' (diàn yǐng, movie) and '演员' (yǎn yuán, actor). Focus on using 演戏 in sentences to enhance your conversational skills in discussing movies and theater.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 演戏 with 表演 (biǎo yǎn), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 演戏 has a connotation of pretense, while 表演 focuses purely on performance. For example, saying '我在演戏表演' (wǒ zài yǎn xì biǎo yǎn) is redundant; just use '我在演戏' for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 演戏

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Component Characters

演yǎnto develop
HSK 414 strokes氵
View full entry
戏xìtrick
HSK 56 strokes戈
View full entry

How to say to put on a play in Chinese

“to put on a play” in Chinese is演戏yǎnxì

演戏 (yǎn xì) means 'to perform a play' or 'to act.' It is commonly used in contexts related to theater and drama, but it can also imply pretending or feigning certain emotions or behaviors in everyday life. The nuance of the term suggests not only the act of performing but also an element of artifice or insincerity in personal interactions.

When to use 演戏

演戏 is often used in both formal and informal contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar terms like '表演' (biǎo yǎn), which specifically refers to performances more broadly. Learners should also be mindful of the tone, as mispronouncing either character can change the meaning significantly.

演戏 or something close to it

表演 (biǎoyǎn) — use 演戏 (yǎn xì) specifically for theatrical contexts or when implying insincerity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 演戏 with 表演 (biǎo yǎn), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 演戏 has a connotation of pretense, while 表演 focuses purely on performance. For example, saying '我在演戏表演' (wǒ zài yǎn xì biǎo yǎn) is redundant; just use '我在演戏' for clarity.

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演
戏

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Frequently Asked Questions about 演戏

Synonyms include 表演 (biǎo yǎn) for 'to perform' and 假装 (jiǎ zhuāng) for 'to pretend.'

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