to perform; performance
HSK level
表演 is written with 22 strokes (表: 8, 演: 14). The animation replays automatically.
表演 (biǎoyǎn) means 'to perform' or 'a performance' — singing, dancing, acting, magic, gymnastics, or any artistic display in front of an audience.
It works as both a verb (他表演了一个魔术 'he performed a magic trick') and a noun (今晚的表演很精彩 'tonight's performance was wonderful'). Two differences from English: first, 表演 specifically suggests a prepared artistic display — for sports games use 比赛, for everyday work performance use 表现 (biǎoxiàn); second, 表演 is broader than English 'perform' in the sense that it covers any stage act regardless of size, from a child's classroom dance to a national gala.
It can also mean 'to put on an act' figuratively, with a slightly negative tone: 你别表演了 (stop putting on an act). The default measure word is 场 for the whole event.
Character by character
Memory hook: 表 (show outwardly) + 演 (act) — to act something out for others to see.
表演 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.
Browse the full episode library孩子们的表演非常精彩。
Háizimen de biǎoyǎn fēicháng jīngcǎi.
The children's performance was wonderful.
neutral
她在生日会上表演了一个魔术。
Tā zài shēngrì huì shàng biǎoyǎn le yí ge móshù.
She performed a magic trick at the birthday party.
spoken
今晚的表演几点开始？
Jīnwǎn de biǎoyǎn jǐ diǎn kāishǐ?
What time does tonight's performance start?
spoken
我喜欢看京剧表演。
Wǒ xǐhuan kàn jīngjù biǎoyǎn.
I like watching Peking Opera performances.
neutral
演出 emphasizes the event itself — a scheduled show or production: 今晚有演出 (there's a show tonight). 表演 focuses more on the act of performing. A 演出 contains many 表演 (acts).
Single-character 演 means 'to act / play a role,' often for plays and movies: 演电影 (act in a film), 演主角 (play the lead). 表演 is broader and works for any stage act, not just acting.
表现 is 'to perform / behave / manifest' in the sense of someone's conduct or output: 工作表现 (work performance), 表现得很好 (behaved well). Not used for artistic performances.
表示 means 'to express / indicate' (feelings, stances). Same first character. 表示感谢 (express thanks) is verbal; 表演节目 (perform an act) is on stage.
表现 = behave / manifest character (everyday behavior). 表演 = perform on stage (artistic). 学生在课堂上表现 (the student's behavior in class) vs 学生在舞台上表演 (the student performs on stage).
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