Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 角色扮演 | juésè bànyǎn |
| 色扮演秀 | sèbànyǎnxiù |
| 角演 | juéyǎn |
The term refers to the subculture centered on dressing as characters. In casual internet and ACG (Animation, Comics and Games) subcultures, people often use the shortened English loanword cos as a verb to mean the act of dressing up as a character.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 角色扮演 is composed of 角色 (juésè) meaning 'role' or 'character' and 扮演 (bànyǎn) meaning 'to play' or 'to portray'.
Which one should you use?
The form 角演 is also available, and 色扮演秀 exists as a variant.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cos is considered slang used frequently in internet and ACG subcultures. The abbreviation cos is also used informally to specifically refer to cosplay in China.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, the English loanword cos is frequently used as a verb to describe the action of cosplaying.
How do you pronounce it?
juésè bànyǎn
Did you know?
- In many Chinese ACG communities, the term 出 (chū), which means 'to go out' or 'to produce', is used as shorthand for the act of performing a cosplay.
- The word 角色 in 角色扮演 originally referred to a mask or a specific puppet in traditional theater before becoming the general word for 'character'.
- The variant 色扮演秀 is quite rare and can be misinterpreted because the character 色 (sè) can also mean 'color' or carry a sexual connotation in different contexts.
Examples in context
- 我喜欢COSI like cosplay
- 你喜欢cosplay吗？Do you like cosplay?
- 当然！我最喜欢扮演动漫角色。Of course! I love dressing up as anime characters.
- 你知道哪里有卖cosplay服装的商店吗？Do you know any stores that sell cosplay costumes?
- 你可以去动漫街，那有很多卖cosplay服装的商店。You can go to the Anime Street, there are many shops selling cosplay costumes there.
- 他很喜欢角色扮演。Tā hěn xǐhuān juésè bànyǎn.He really likes cosplay.
- 这场角色扮演比赛很精彩。Zhè chǎng juésè bànyǎn bǐsài hěn jīngcǎi.This cosplay competition is wonderful.
- 你想参加角色扮演活动吗？Nǐ xiǎng cānjiā juésè bànyǎn huódòng ma?Do you want to participate in the cosplay event?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a weekend event at a convention.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，你想去参加角色扮演活动吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ xiǎng qù cānjiā juésè bànyǎn huódòng ma?Zhiqiang, do you want to go to the cosplay event?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我很想去，但我还没准备好服装。Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, dàn wǒ hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo fúzhuāng.I really want to go, but I haven't prepared my costume yet.
- 佳怡 Jiayi没关系，我可以帮你找一件。Méiguānxì, wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ zhǎo yī jiàn.That's okay, I can help you find one.
- 志强 Zhiqiang那太好了，谢谢你，佳怡。Nà tài hǎo le, xièxiè nǐ, Jiāyí.That would be great, thank you, Jiayi.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cosplay” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
