戯 (hū) - Play, drama, performance & to play, to sport, to joke

戯Tone 1

hū ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

戯 · hū

Play, drama, performance;

to play, to sport, to joke;

to fight, to engage in a contest.

Play, drama, performanceto play, to sport, to joketo fight, to engage in a contest.

Usage highlights

Drama, playTo watch a playTo jokeVideo gameOperaTo act, perform

Synonyms

  • 玩— to play, have fun
  • 剧— drama, play
  • 嬉— to play, to amuse oneself

Antonyms

  • 真— real, genuine (antonym to the 'pretend/act' sense)
  • 正— serious, proper (antonym to the 'playful/joking' sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The audience watched the opera performance (看戏).
  • Children love to play games (玩游戏).
  • He was just joking (开玩笑).
  • The two armies engaged in battle (两军对戏).

Collocations

  • Drama, play(戏剧)
  • To watch a play(看戏)
  • To joke(开玩笑)
  • Video game(电子游戏)
  • Opera(戏曲)
  • To act, perform(演戏)

Idioms

  • Treat with levity, regard as a mere game(视同儿戏)
  • A flash in the pan, short-lived(一场春梦，一戏之欢)
  • To flirt, to tease playfully(调戏)
  • A play within a play(戏中戏)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Deeply rooted in Chinese performing arts, especially traditional opera (戏曲), which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.
  • The character embodies the concept of 'play' in both recreational and theatrical contexts, reflecting the importance of performance in Chinese culture.

FAQ