Definitions
(noun)
play; drama; show
(noun)
trick; joke
(verb)
to play; to perform
About
The traditional character 戲, from which the simplified form 戏 originates, is structurally composed of 虍 denoting a tiger, 豆 representing a vessel or platform, and 戈 meaning a spear or weapon, a configuration that implies an early connection to ritualized demonstrations or martial displays involving symbolic tools and animals. This composition suggests the term initially referred to performative acts with a ceremonial or competitive nature, which over time shifted in emphasis toward staged dramatic arts and theatrical productions. The semantic range of the character subsequently expanded to include notions of games, amusement, and lighthearted mockery, encompassing a variety of recreational activities. In its simplified iteration, 戏 retains the element 戈 while incorporating 又, offering a more abbreviated graphic form that nevertheless carries the same broad conceptual associations with performance and play.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们在玩游戏。
这场戏很好看。
他喜欢看戏剧。
不要戏弄别人。
游戏时间结束了。
戏剧表演非常精彩。
她在这部戏中饰演母亲。
孩子们在公园里嬉戏玩耍。