演员
actor; performer
yǎnyuán
What does 演员 mean?
演员 (yǎnyuán) is the general Chinese noun for a performer — an actor, actress, or anyone who performs on stage or screen. It is gender-neutral, so unlike English 'actor' versus 'actress,' one word covers both; if you need to specify, you say 男演员 (male) or 女演员 (female). The word is broad: it covers film and TV actors, stage actors, opera performers, and even acrobats or dancers, since 演 means 'to perform' generally.
It is neutral in register and used in everyday speech, news, and credits alike. Note that 演员 refers to the person; the act of performing is 表演 (biǎoyǎn) and a film/TV star specifically is often called 明星 (míngxīng). A learner should not confuse 演员 (any performer) with 明星 (a famous celebrity) — every 明星 is a 演员, but most 演员 are not 明星.
Character breakdown
to perform; to act; to develop
member; person (in a role or profession)
Memory hook: 演 = to perform + 员 = a person in a role → a 'performing person,' an actor.
Measure word for 演员
Example sentences
她是一位很有名的演员。
Tā shì yí wèi hěn yǒumíng de yǎnyuán.
She is a very famous actress.
neutral
我小时候的梦想是当演员。
Wǒ xiǎoshíhou de mèngxiǎng shì dāng yǎnyuán.
My childhood dream was to become an actor.
spoken
这部电影的演员表演得非常好。
Zhè bù diànyǐng de yǎnyuán biǎoyǎn de fēicháng hǎo.
The actors in this film performed extremely well.
neutral
剧组正在招募群众演员。
Jùzǔ zhèngzài zhāomù qúnzhòng yǎnyuán.
The film crew is recruiting extras.
written
Common phrases with 演员
Synonyms
明星 means a famous star or celebrity — it emphasizes fame, not the profession. Use 演员 for anyone who acts; use 明星 only when the person is well-known.
艺人 is a broader entertainment-industry term covering actors, singers, and hosts. Use 演员 when the person specifically acts; 艺人 for a general 'entertainer.'
Don't confuse 演员 with
FAQ
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