zhǎnlǎn: 展览 - Exhibition, Show, Display

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 展览 (zhǎnlǎn), which means “exhibition,” “show,” or “display.” This page covers its meaning, character origins, and cultural context. Whether you're visiting a museum in Beijing, attending a trade show in Shanghai, or just want to talk about an art exhibit, understanding 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) is key. Discover practical example sentences, common mistakes, and related terms to master its use in modern Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǎnlǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: An organized presentation and display of a selection of items; to put something on display.
• In a Nutshell: 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) is the most common and versatile word for any kind of exhibition. Think of it as the go-to term for an art show, a museum exhibit, a trade fair, a car show, or a historical display. It's a neutral and widely understood word that applies to any event where items are put out for people to look at.

• 展 (zhǎn): This character means to unfold, open up, or display. Imagine unfolding a scroll painting or a map to show it to someone. It carries the idea of spreading something out for all to see.
• 览 (lǎn): This character means to look at, view, or inspect. The character contains the radical 见 (jiàn), which means “to see.” This part of the word is all about the act of viewing.

When you combine them, 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) literally means “to unfold for viewing,” which perfectly captures the essence of an exhibition.

While the concept of an “exhibition” is universal, its role in modern China has a unique flavor. In the last few decades, China has experienced an unprecedented boom in the construction of museums, art galleries, and massive convention centers. 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) are not just cultural pastimes; they are often instruments of national development and soft power.

• Economic Engines: Massive trade fairs, known as `展会 (zhǎnhuì)` or `博览会 (bólǎnhuì)`, such as the Canton Fair in Guangzhou or the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, are huge, state-supported events that drive global business and showcase China's economic strength. This is a level of national-scale coordination that is less common for trade shows in the West, which are often purely private-sector driven.
• Shaping Narratives: Many historical and cultural exhibitions in national museums are carefully curated to promote a specific narrative of China's history, achievements, and unity. They are a way to educate the public and reinforce national identity.
• A Growing Art Scene: Simultaneously, there is a burgeoning contemporary art scene. Visiting a modern art 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) in a district like Beijing's 798 Art Zone offers a glimpse into the creative, and sometimes subtly critical, pulse of modern Chinese society.

For a learner, understanding 展览 means seeing it not just as a fun activity, but as a window into China's economy, politics, and rapidly evolving cultural landscape.

展览 is a standard, neutral-to-formal term used in a wide variety of situations.

• As a Noun: This is its most common use. You use it to talk about the event itself.
  • `我们去看一个艺术展览吧。` (Let's go see an art exhibition.)
  • `这个展览的主题是关于太空探索的。` (The theme of this exhibition is about space exploration.)
• As a Verb: It can also mean “to exhibit” or “to display.” This usage is slightly more formal.
  • `美术馆正在展览这位艺术家的早期作品。` (The art museum is exhibiting this artist's early works.)
• In Casual Conversation: While 展览 is perfectly fine in conversation, you'll often hear young people use the more casual, abbreviated term `看展 (kàn zhǎn)`, which literally means “to see an exhibition.” It's similar to saying “going gallery-hopping” in English.
  • `这个周末你想不想一起去看展？` (Wanna go see an exhibition together this weekend?)

• Example 1:
  • 这个周末，上海有一个国际汽车展览。
  • Pinyin: Zhège zhōumò, Shànghǎi yǒu yīgè guójì qìchē zhǎnlǎn.
  • English: This weekend, there is an international car exhibition in Shanghai.
  • Analysis: A straightforward example of 展览 used as a noun for a large-scale commercial event.
• Example 2:
  • 我对历史展览比对艺术展览更感兴趣。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì lìshǐ zhǎnlǎn bǐ duì yìshù zhǎnlǎn gèng gǎn xìngqù.
  • English: I'm more interested in history exhibitions than art exhibitions.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the `对…感兴趣 (duì…gǎn xìngqù)` structure to express interest and compares two different types of exhibitions.
• Example 3:
  • 故宫博物院正在展览一批珍贵的古代文物。
  • Pinyin: Gùgōng Bówùyuàn zhèngzài zhǎnlǎn yī pī zhēnguì de gǔdài wénwù.
  • English: The Palace Museum is currently exhibiting a batch of precious ancient cultural relics.
  • Analysis: Here, 展览 is used as a verb, “to exhibit.” The `正在 (zhèngzài)` indicates the action is in progress.
• Example 4:
  • 这次摄影展览的所有作品都非常感人。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì shèyǐng zhǎnlǎn de suǒyǒu zuòpǐn dōu fēicháng gǎnrén.
  • English: All the works in this photography exhibition are very moving.
  • Analysis: This shows how to describe an exhibition. `摄影展览 (shèyǐng zhǎnlǎn)` means “photography exhibition.”
• Example 5:
  • 你知道这个展览的门票多少钱吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào zhège zhǎnlǎn de ménpiào duōshǎo qián ma?
  • English: Do you know how much the entrance ticket for this exhibition costs?
  • Analysis: A very practical sentence for anyone planning to visit an exhibition in China. `门票 (ménpiào)` means “entrance ticket.”
• Example 6:
  • 他们的公司每年都会参加这个行业展览。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de gōngsī měinián dōu huì cānjiā zhège hángyè zhǎnlǎn.
  • English: Their company participates in this industry exhibition every year.
  • Analysis: Highlights the business context. `行业 (hángyè)` means “industry.”
• Example 7:
  • 展览馆在几楼？
  • Pinyin: Zhǎnlǎnguǎn zài jǐ lóu?
  • English: Which floor is the exhibition hall on?
  • Analysis: Note the related word `展览馆 (zhǎnlǎn'guǎn)`, which means “exhibition hall” or “exhibition center.”
• Example 8:
  • 这个展览将持续到下个月底。
  • Pinyin: Zhège zhǎnlǎn jiāng chíxù dào xià ge yuè dǐ.
  • English: This exhibition will last until the end of next month.
  • Analysis: `持续 (chíxù)` means “to last” or “to continue,” a useful verb for talking about the duration of events.
• Example 9:
  • 由于天气原因，户外展览被取消了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú tiānqì yuányīn, hùwài zhǎnlǎn bèi qǔxiāo le.
  • English: Due to weather reasons, the outdoor exhibition was cancelled.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the passive voice with `被 (bèi)`. `户外 (hùwài)` means “outdoor.”
• Example 10:
  • 很多年轻人喜欢在周末去看各种各样的展览。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xǐhuān zài zhōumò qù kàn gèzhǒng gèyàng de zhǎnlǎn.
  • English: Many young people like to go see all kinds of exhibitions on the weekend.
  • Analysis: A great general sentence describing a modern cultural trend in China.

• `展览 (zhǎnlǎn)` vs. `展会 (zhǎnhuì)`: This is a key distinction for learners.
  • 展览 (zhǎnlǎn): A general term for any exhibition (art, history, science, etc.). It focuses on the items being displayed.
  • 展会 (zhǎnhuì): Specifically refers to a trade fair, a trade show, or an expo. The `会 (huì)` means “meeting” or “gathering,” emphasizing the commercial and networking purpose. You go to a `展会` to do business. You go to a `展览` to appreciate things.
  • Example: A car show could be called both, but `汽车展会` emphasizes the sales and industry aspect more than `汽车展览`.
• `展览 (zhǎnlǎn)` vs. `陈列 (chénliè)`:
  • 展览 (zhǎnlǎn): Refers to the entire event, which is often temporary.
  • 陈列 (chénliè): Means “to display” or “to arrange.” It refers to the physical arrangement of items, often in a more permanent or static way, like goods on a supermarket shelf (`商品陈列`) or the permanent collection in a museum display case (`博物馆的陈列`).
• Common Mistake: Do not use 展览 for a live performance. A student might incorrectly say “音乐展览” (music exhibition). A musical performance is a `音乐会 (yīnyuèhuì)`. 展览 is for viewing things, not watching a performance.

• 展会 (zhǎnhuì) - A trade fair or expo. More commercial and business-focused than a general `展览`.
• 博览会 (bólǎnhuì) - An exposition. A very large-scale, often international, fair or expo (e.g., the World Expo, `世博会 (Shìbóhuì)`).
• 博物馆 (bówùguǎn) - Museum. A common venue for a `展览`.
• 美术馆 (měishùguǎn) - Art museum or art gallery. A place that specifically holds art `展览`.
• 展出 (zhǎnchū) - (Verb) To put on display, to exhibit. Very similar to the verb usage of `展览`.
• 陈列 (chénliè) - (Verb/Noun) To display, arrange; a display. Refers to the static arrangement of items.
• 看展 (kàn zhǎn) - A very common and slightly informal verb phrase meaning “to go see an exhibition.”
• 画廊 (huàláng) - A commercial art gallery that sells art, as opposed to a public `美术馆`.
• 展品 (zhǎnpǐn) - An exhibit; an item on display in an exhibition.
• 展台 (zhǎntái) - An exhibition booth or stand, typically at a trade show (`展会`).