电影
diànyǐng
The English phrase 'movie' is translated into Chinese as 电影 (diànyǐng).
The term refers to a story told through a series of moving images shown in a cinema or on a screen.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 电影 is composed of 电 (diàn), meaning 'electricity' and 影 (yǐng), meaning 'shadow' or 'image'.
How do you pronounce it?
diànyǐng
Did you know?
- Chinese speakers often use the term 大片 (dàpiàn), literally 'big piece' or 'big slice', to describe a high-budget blockbuster movie.
- The character 影 (yǐng) also appears in the word for 'shadow play', an ancient form of storytelling that predates the cinema and influenced the conceptualization of 'movies' in China.
- Because the word for 'movie' contains the character for 'shadow', the term for 'cinema' or 'movie theater' is often 电影院, which literally translates to 'electric shadow courtyard'.
Examples in context
- 今年，我看了很多好看的电影。This year, I watched many great movies.
- 这部影片融合了戏剧和惊悚元素。This film combines elements of drama and thriller.
- 咱们一起去看个电影吧！Let's go watch a movie together!
- 一部喜剧电影A comedy movie
- 一部浪漫电影A romantic movie
- 你有没有什么好看的电影推荐?Do you have any recommendations for good movies?
- 我喜欢看喜剧片I enjoy watching comedy movies.
- 这部电影很有意思。Zhè bù diànyǐng hěn yǒu yìsi.This movie is very interesting.
- 你想看电影吗？Nǐ xiǎng kàn diànyǐng ma?Do you want to watch a movie?
- 我昨天看了一部电影。Wǒ zuótiān kànle yī bù diànyǐng.I watched a movie yesterday.
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Yuting are discussing their evening plans.
- 志强 Zhiqiang雨婷，你想去看电影吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ xiǎng qù kàn diànyǐng ma?Yuting, do you want to go see a movie?
- 雨婷 Yuting好啊，有什么好电影？Hǎo a, yǒu shénme hǎo diànyǐng?Sure, are there any good movies?
- 志强 Zhiqiang现在有一部很出名的电影。Xiànzài yǒu yī bù hěn chūmíng de diànyǐng.There is a very famous movie playing now.
- 雨婷 Yuting太好了，我们一起去吧。Tài hǎole, wǒmen yīqǐ qù ba.Great, let's go together.
