戲 (xì) - Play, drama, performance & to play, to sport, to joke

戲Tone 4

xì ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

戲 · xì

Play, drama, performance;

to play, to sport, to joke;

to make fun of.

Play, drama, performanceto play, to sport, to joketo make fun of.

Usage highlights

Drama/playOperaTo perform/actTo jokeGameMovie/film

Synonyms

  • 剧— drama, play
  • 玩— to play, to have fun
  • 嬉— to play, to sport

Antonyms

  • 真— real, genuine
  • 实— solid, true
  • 诚— sincere, honest

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We watched a Peking opera performance (京剧表演).
  • Children love to play games (玩游戏).
  • That was just a joke (开玩笑).
  • He is a famous drama actor (戏剧演员).

Collocations

  • Drama/play(戏剧)
  • Opera(戏曲)
  • To perform/act(演戏)
  • To joke(开玩笑)
  • Game(游戏)
  • Movie/film(电影戏)

Idioms

  • To treat as a mere game(视同儿戏)
  • A lone actor on stage—monologue(独角戏)
  • To put on a show for the gods—deceive superiors(唱对台戏)
  • Life is but a dream(人生如戏)
  • To steal the show(抢戏)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Deeply rooted in Chinese performing arts tradition, especially Chinese opera which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.
  • In Confucian context, sometimes carries negative connotations of frivolity or insincerity when overemphasized.
  • Represents the concept of 'life as theater' in Chinese philosophical traditions.

FAQ