馬戲團 / 马戏团
mǎxìtuán
In Chinese, the English phrase "circus" is translated as 馬戲團 / 马戏团 (mǎxìtuán). If unsure, use 馬戲團 / 马戏团. Wiktionary also lists 馬戲場 / 马戏场 (mǎxìchǎng) and 雜技場 / 杂技场 (zájìchǎng).
Meaning: company that travels (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 馬戲團 / 马戏团 | mǎxìtuán |
| 馬戲場 / 马戏场 | mǎxìchǎng |
| 雜技場 / 杂技场 | zájìchǎng |
Use 馬戲團 / 马戏团 when you are referring to the traveling organization or the troupe of performers itself, such as in the phrase 一个马戏团 (one circus).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 馬戲團 / 马戏团 is composed of 马戏 (circus or acrobatics) and 团 (troupe, group or organization).
Which one should you use?
While 馬戲團 / 马戏团 refers to the traveling company, 馬戲場 / 马戏场 is used to describe the physical venue or arena where circus performances are held. Similarly, 雜技場 / 杂技场 refers to an acrobatics arena and specifically emphasizes acrobatics as the main attraction, whereas 馬戲場 / 马戏场 is a more general term for a circus venue.
How do you pronounce it?
mǎxìtuán
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese, calling a chaotic situation a 马戏团 (mǎxìtuán) can be a sarcastic way to describe a disorganized or ridiculous group of people.
- The word 戏 (xì) in 马戏 (mǎxì) is the same character used for 'opera' or 'play', suggesting that early circus acts were viewed as a form of theatrical storytelling.
- The word 马戏 (mǎxì) literally means 'horse play', as early Chinese circus performances focused heavily on equestrian skills.
Examples in context
- 请你带我去看马戏团。Please take me to see the circus.
- 这个马戏团的表演非常精彩。The performance of this circus is extremely fascinating.
- 我喜欢看舞台马戏表演。I enjoy watching stage circus performances.
- 这次的舞台马戏会是一场精彩的表演。This stage circus is going to be a spectacular show.
- 他们在公园举行了一场马戏表演。They held a circus performance in the park.
- 孩子们都盼望着这次的马戏表演。The children are looking forward to this circus performance.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “circus” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
