zhǎnchū: 展出 - To Exhibit, To Display, To Put on Show

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 展出 (zhǎn chū), which means “to exhibit” or “to display”. This HSK 4 word is crucial for talking about art galleries, museums, trade shows, and expos in China. This guide breaks down its meaning, provides rich cultural context, offers 10 practical example sentences, and clarifies the important difference between 展出 (zhǎn chū) and its related noun 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǎn chū
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To put something on display for the public to see; to exhibit.
• In a Nutshell: 展出 (zhǎn chū) is the action of taking something out and presenting it for viewing. Think of a museum putting ancient artifacts on show, an artist displaying their paintings in a gallery, or a company showcasing its new products at a trade fair. It's the “doing” word for creating an exhibition.

• 展 (zhǎn): This character means “to unfold,” “to spread out,” or “to open.” Imagine unfurling a scroll or rolling out a map to show its contents. It carries the sense of making something visible that was previously hidden or compact.
• 出 (chū): This character means “to go out” or “to come out.” It depicts a foot stepping out of an enclosed space. It signifies movement from an internal, private space to an external, public one.
• When combined, 展出 (zhǎn chū) literally means “to unfold and bring out.” This paints a vivid picture of taking items from storage or a private collection, spreading them out, and presenting them to the public, which is the exact meaning of “to exhibit.”

In modern China, 展出 (zhǎn chū) is a verb that bridges the ancient past with the hyper-modern future. On one hand, it's used for the prestigious exhibitions of millennia-old artifacts (文物, wénwù) that are a great source of national pride. These events are often large-scale, state-sponsored affairs, reflecting the cultural importance of history. On the other hand, 展出 (zhǎn chū) is the language of commerce and innovation. Massive international trade fairs (展览会, zhǎnlǎnhuì) in cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou are where Chinese companies 展出 their latest technology to the world. A useful comparison for a Western learner is the difference between a local art fair and a major museum biennial. While both “exhibit” art, the term 展出 (zhǎn chū) in China often carries the weight and scale of the latter. It implies a formal, organized presentation, whether for cultural preservation or economic ambition, which reflects a society that places high value on structured, public displays of achievement and heritage.

展出 (zhǎn chū) is a standard, neutral-to-formal verb used in various contexts. You'll hear and see it constantly in relation to cultural events, business, and education.

• In Museums and Galleries: This is the most common context. It's the standard verb to say that artworks, artifacts, or photographs are being displayed.
• In Business and Trade: At an expo (博览会, bólǎnhuì) or trade show (展览会, zhǎnlǎnhuì), companies 展出 their newest products (新产品, xīn chǎnpǐn) to attract clients and investors.
• In Education: A school might 展出 student projects (学生作品, xuéshēng zuòpǐn) in the library or hall for parents to see.

The verb is almost always used to describe the public presentation of physical or visual items. It is not used for demonstrating a process or showing an emotion.

• Example 1:
  • 博物馆正在展出一批新发现的文物。
  • Pinyin: Bówùguǎn zhèngzài zhǎnchū yī pī xīn fāxiàn de wénwù.
  • English: The museum is currently exhibiting a batch of newly discovered cultural artifacts.
  • Analysis: A classic and straightforward example of using 展出 in a museum context. The object being exhibited is “文物” (artifacts).
• Example 2:
  • 这位艺术家的最新画作将在下个月展出。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi yìshùjiā de zuìxīn huàzuò jiāng zài xià ge yuè zhǎnchū.
  • English: This artist's latest paintings will be on display next month.
  • Analysis: Here, 展出 is used to talk about a future event. It functions as a simple verb.
• Example 3:
  • 我们公司将在上海汽车博览会上展出我们的电动车。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī jiāng zài Shànghǎi qìchē bólǎnhuì shàng zhǎnchū wǒmen de diàndòngchē.
  • English: Our company will exhibit our electric car at the Shanghai Auto Expo.
  • Analysis: This shows the usage of 展出 in a modern business and technology context.
• Example 4:
  • 展出的作品禁止触摸。
  • Pinyin: Zhǎnchū de zuòpǐn jìnzhǐ chùmō.
  • English: The exhibited works are forbidden to be touched. / Please do not touch the exhibits.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 展出 acts as a modifier (like an adjective) for the noun “作品” (works). The “的 (de)” connects them, meaning “the works that are exhibited.”
• Example 5:
  • 这张照片是首次向公众展出。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn shì shǒucì xiàng gōngzhòng zhǎnchū.
  • English: This photograph is being exhibited to the public for the first time.
  • Analysis: This structure, “向 [someone] 展出” (xiàng [someone] zhǎnchū), means “to exhibit to [someone].” Here, the public (公众) is the audience.
• Example 6:
  • 学校把学生们的获奖手工作品都在大厅里展出了。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxiào bǎ xuéshēngmen de huòjiǎng shǒugōng zuòpǐn dōu zài dàtīng lǐ zhǎnchū le.
  • English: The school displayed all the students' award-winning handicrafts in the main hall.
  • Analysis: This example uses the “把 (bǎ)” construction to emphasize the action of displaying the objects (“作品”).
• Example 7:
  • 这个特别展览将展出一百多件来自故宫的珍宝。
  • Pinyin: Zhège tèbié zhǎnlǎn jiāng zhǎnchū yībǎi duō jiàn láizì Gùgōng de zhēnbǎo.
  • English: This special exhibition will display more than 100 treasures from the Forbidden City.
  • Analysis: Notice how the noun “展览” (exhibition) and the verb “展出” (to exhibit) are used together in the same sentence, highlighting their different roles.
• Example 8:
  • 那些展出的服装都非常昂贵。
  • Pinyin: Nàxiē zhǎnchū de fúzhuāng dōu fēicháng ángguì.
  • English: Those clothes on display are all very expensive.
  • Analysis: Similar to example 4, 展出 is used here to describe the clothes. It answers the question “Which clothes?” - the ones that are on display.
• Example 9:
  • 画廊决定展出一些年轻艺术家的作品，给他们一个机会。
  • Pinyin: Huàláng juédìng zhǎnchū yīxiē niánqīng yìshùjiā de zuòpǐn, gěi tāmen yīge jīhuì.
  • English: The gallery decided to exhibit the works of some young artists to give them an opportunity.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the purpose or reason behind the action of exhibiting.
• Example 10:
  • 这次展览会展出了世界各地的最新科技产品。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì zhǎnlǎnhuì zhǎnchū le shìjiè gèdì de zuìxīn kējì chǎnpǐn.
  • English: This trade fair exhibited the latest tech products from all over the world.
  • Analysis: Another example showing the noun “展览会” (trade fair) as the context for the verb “展出” (exhibited).

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 展出 (zhǎn chū) and 展览 (zhǎnlǎn). They look and sound similar but have different primary functions.

• 展出 (zhǎn chū) is a VERB. It is the action of exhibiting.
• 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) is a NOUN. It is the event, the exhibition itself.

Think of it this way: You 展出 (zhǎn chū) artworks at a 展览 (zhǎnlǎn). Common Mistake Example:

• Incorrect: 我想去看一个展出。 (Wǒ xiǎng qù kàn yīge zhǎnchū.)
• Why it's wrong: This is like saying “I want to go see an exhibit(ed).” You are using the verb as a noun.
• Correct: 我想去看一个展览。 (Wǒ xiǎng qù kàn yīge zhǎnlǎn.)
• Explanation: You go to see an exhibition (the event/noun), not the action of exhibiting.

While 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) can sometimes be used as a verb, it's far less common and more formal than 展出 (zhǎn chū). As a beginner, it's safest to stick to the rule: 展出 = Verb, 展览 = Noun.

• 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) - Noun: an exhibition, a show. This is the event where things are 展出.
• 展览会 (zhǎnlǎnhuì) - Noun: a large-scale exhibition, a fair, an expo. A more formal word for a big 展览.
• 展示 (zhǎnshì) - Verb: to show, display, demonstrate. This is a broader term. You can 展示 how a machine works (a demonstration), but you would 展出 the machine itself (a static display).
• 陈列 (chénliè) - Verb: to display, to set out. Often implies a neat, orderly arrangement, like goods on a store shelf or specimens in a museum case. It's more about arrangement than public presentation.
• 博物馆 (bówùguǎn) - Noun: museum. A very common place where items are 展出.
• 美术馆 (měishùguǎn) - Noun: art gallery. Another primary venue for 展出.
• 作品 (zuòpǐn) - Noun: a work of art, literature, etc. A common object of the verb 展出.
• 博览会 (bólǎnhuì) - Noun: an exposition, a large international fair (like a World Expo). A grand-scale event for exhibiting things.