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 2 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.
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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