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HSK 3

节目

program; show

nounneutral
jié2nd tone
4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
jiémù
Part of speech
noun
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
10
Register
neutral
Measure word
个 / 档

Stroke order for 节目

节目 is written with 10 strokes (: 5, : 5). The animation replays automatically.

What does 节目 mean?

节目 (jiémù) means 'program' or 'show' in a broad sense — a single act, episode, or scheduled performance.

It covers television shows (电视节目), radio shows (广播节目), variety shows (综艺节目), and individual numbers in a stage lineup (晚会节目, 'gala numbers'). The word is wide: a kid's piano performance at a school party is 一个节目, and so is a prime-time talk show. Two patterns help: first, 看节目 ('watch a program') is the everyday way to describe TV viewing; second, when listing items in a performance ('the next 节目 is...'

), 节目 refers to one act within a larger show. Unlike English 'show,' which can mean an exhibition or display, 节目 specifically refers to scheduled or curated content — something on a program list. For 'movie,' Chinese uses 电影 (diànyǐng), not 节目.

Note: Standard in everyday speech and writing. Covers TV shows, radio programs, podcasts, stage performances, and event lineups.

Character by character

jiésection; segment; festival
+
item; eye; entry
=
节目

Memory hook: 节 (segment) + 目 (item on a list) = a segmented item on a program — a show.

Example sentences

我喜欢看这个节目。

Wǒ xǐhuan kàn zhège jiémù.

I like watching this show.

spoken

今天晚上有什么节目?

Jīntiān wǎnshàng yǒu shénme jiémù?

What programs are on tonight?

spoken

这个电视节目很有意思。

Zhège diànshì jiémù hěn yǒu yìsi.

This TV program is very interesting.

neutral

下一个节目是唱歌。

Xià yīge jiémù shì chànggē.

The next act is singing.

neutral

Common phrases with 节目

看节目kàn jiémùto watch a program
电视节目diànshì jiémùTV program
广播节目guǎngbō jiémùradio program
节目单jiémùdānprogram list; lineup
下一个节目xià yīge jiémùthe next show/act

Synonyms

电视剧diànshìjù

电视剧 specifically means 'TV drama / TV series' — a scripted multi-episode show. 节目 is broader: any program on TV, radio, or stage, scripted or not.

演出yǎnchū

演出 ('performance, show') focuses on live performance — a concert, a stage act. 节目 can be live or pre-recorded, and often refers to a single item or scheduled program rather than the whole event.

Don't confuse 节目 with

节日jiérì

节日 (jiérì) means 'festival, holiday.' Both start with but the second character differs — (item) vs (day). 节目 is a TV show; 节日 is a holiday like Spring Festival.

项目xiàngmù

项目 ('project, item, event') is used for work projects or sporting events — 工程项目 (engineering project), 比赛项目 (sport event). 节目 is for shows and performances.

FAQ

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