yàngbǎn: 样板 - Template, Model, Sample, Prototype

• Keywords: yangban, 样板, Chinese template, Chinese model, what does yangban mean, 样板戏, yangbanxi, model opera, Chinese prototype, sample in Chinese, role model in Chinese
• Summary: The Chinese word 样板 (yàngbǎn) literally translates to “template,” “model,” or “sample,” referring to a standard to be copied, like a model home or a document template. However, its meaning is deeply enriched by modern Chinese history, specifically its association with the 样板戏 (yàngbǎn xì), or “Model Operas,” of the Cultural Revolution. This gives the term a dual connotation: it can be a neutral, practical term for a prototype or standard, but can also imply something is rigid, dogmatic, or uncreatively “cookie-cutter.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yàngbǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A template, model, or sample used as a standard for others to follow; a prototype.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `样板` as the perfect master copy that everything else is based on. In a factory, it's the first perfect product that all others must match. In real estate, it's the beautifully decorated model home (样板房, yàngbǎnfáng) used to sell other apartments. In writing, it's the model essay your teacher wants you to emulate. It is the standard-setter, the thing you measure everything else against.

• 样 (yàng): This character means “manner,” “appearance,” “shape,” or “sample.” It's about the form or style of something. Think of it as the “look” or “pattern.”
• 板 (bǎn): This character means “board,” “plank,” or “plate.” Originally referring to a wooden plank, it carries the idea of something flat, solid, and fixed, like a printing plate used to make many copies.
• When combined, 样板 (yàngbǎn) literally means a “sample board” or “model plate.” This paints a vivid picture of a fixed, solid pattern from which identical copies are produced, perfectly capturing its meaning as a template or standard.

The most crucial context for understanding `样板` is its connection to the 样板戏 (yàngbǎn xì) - “Model Operas”. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), most traditional arts were banned. Instead, the government, heavily influenced by Jiang Qing (Mao Zedong's wife), promoted a small, approved set of revolutionary-themed Peking operas and ballets. There were initially eight of these, and they became known as the “Eight Model Operas.” They were the only approved form of theatrical entertainment for nearly a decade and were broadcast relentlessly across the country. These productions were the ultimate `样板`: they were the ideological and artistic model that all other creative works were forced to follow. They glorified class struggle, peasants, soldiers, and loyalty to the Communist Party. Because of this history, `样板` can carry a heavy connotation. While it can be a neutral term, it can also be used to criticize something as being rigid, conformist, lacking originality, and serving a political or dogmatic purpose.

• Comparison to Western Culture: This is different from the Western concept of a “classic” or a “masterpiece.” A masterpiece like *Hamlet* is revered and studied, but it isn't mandated as the *only* template for all new plays. The `样板戏` were not just influential; they were institutionally enforced standards, stifling other forms of expression. The closest Western concept might be state-sponsored “propaganda art,” but the all-encompassing nature of the `样板戏` in its time was far more extreme.

In modern China, the use of `样板` has largely returned to its practical, non-political meaning, but the historical echo remains.

• Neutral/Commercial Context (Most Common):
  • In business, real estate, and manufacturing, `样板` is used constantly. A 样板房 (yàngbǎnfáng) is a model home or show flat. A product 样板 (yàngbǎn) is a prototype or sample for mass production. A design 样板 (yàngbǎn) is a template or mockup. This usage is purely functional and positive.
• Figurative/Slightly Negative Context:
  • Calling something a `样板` can be a subtle critique. If you describe a speech as a “样板式发言” (yàngbǎn shì fāyán - “a model-style speech”), you're implying it's full of clichés, predictable, and lacks genuine emotion. It suggests the speaker is just following a script.
• Positive Role Model Context:
  • Less common than the word 榜样 (bǎngyàng), but `样板` can also be used to mean a positive role model, especially when referring to an organization or a project that sets a standard of excellence. For example, “This project will be the `样板` for the whole industry.”

• Example 1: (Model Home)
  • 我们先去看看那个楼盘的样板房吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xiān qù kànkan nàge lóupán de yàngbǎnfáng ba.
  • English: Let's go see the model home for that property development first.
  • Analysis: This is the most common, everyday use of `样板` in modern China. It's completely neutral and commercial.
• Example 2: (Template for a Document)
  • 你可以参考这个合同样板来起草你自己的版本。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ cānkǎo zhège hétong yàngbǎn lái qǐcǎo nǐ zìjǐ de bǎnběn.
  • English: You can use this contract template as a reference to draft your own version.
  • Analysis: Here, `样板` means template or boilerplate. It's a practical tool to ensure correctness and save time.
• Example 3: (Prototype/Sample)
  • 工厂已经把新产品的样板寄过来了。
  • Pinyin: Gōngchǎng yǐjīng bǎ xīn chǎnpǐn de yàngbǎn jì guòlái le.
  • English: The factory has already sent over the sample of the new product.
  • Analysis: In manufacturing and product development, `样板` refers to the prototype or sample that must be approved before mass production.
• Example 4: (Negative Connotation - Cookie-Cutter)
  • 他的回答就像一个样板，听起来很官方，没有感情。
  • Pinyin: Tā de huídá jiù xiàng yī gè yàngbǎn, tīngqǐlái hěn guānfāng, méiyǒu gǎnqíng.
  • English: His answer was like a template; it sounded very official and had no emotion.
  • Analysis: This usage is critical, implying the answer is canned, impersonal, and lacks sincerity. It leverages the “mass-produced” feeling of the word.
• Example 5: (Setting an Example - Positive)
  • 我们要把这个试点项目做成一个样板，供全国学习。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yào bǎ zhège shìdiǎn xiàngmù zuòchéng yī gè yàngbǎn, gōng quánguó xuéxí.
  • English: We need to make this pilot project into a model for the whole country to learn from.
  • Analysis: Here, `样板` is used positively to mean an exemplar or a benchmark of success that others should emulate.
• Example 6: (Historical Context - Model Opera)
  • 老一辈的人很多都会唱几句样板戏。
  • Pinyin: Lǎo yī bèi de rén hěn duō dōu huì chàng jǐ jù yàngbǎnxì.
  • English: Many people from the older generation can sing a few lines from the Model Operas.
  • Analysis: This directly references the historical `样板戏`. The context is historical and cultural.
• Example 7: (Material Sample)
  • 在决定颜色之前，我想先看一下油漆的样板。
  • Pinyin: Zài juédìng yánsè zhīqián, wǒ xiǎng xiān kàn yīxià yóuqī de yàngbǎn.
  • English: Before deciding on the color, I'd like to see a paint sample first.
  • Analysis: Similar to a product sample, `样板` here means a small piece or swatch to show the final effect.
• Example 8: (Software Template)
  • 这个软件自带了很多简历样板。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn zìdài le hěn duō jiǎnlì yàngbǎn.
  • English: This software comes with many resume templates.
  • Analysis: A very modern and common usage in the digital world. 模板 (múbǎn) is also frequently used here.
• Example 9: (Model Student/Case)
  • 老师把他的作文当成样板，在全班念了一遍。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī bǎ tā de zuòwén dāngchéng yàngbǎn, zài quán bān niàn le yī biàn.
  • English: The teacher treated his essay as a model and read it aloud to the whole class.
  • Analysis: In an educational context, a `样板` is a perfect example to be studied and imitated.
• Example 10: (Setting a Standard)
  • 这家公司的服务为整个行业树立了样板。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de fúwù wèi zhěnggè hángyè shùlì le yàngbǎn.
  • English: This company's service has set the standard (lit: established a model) for the entire industry.
  • Analysis: Similar to example 5, this highlights `样板` as a benchmark or a “gold standard.”

• `样板` vs. `例子` (lìzi): A `例子` is simply an “example” to illustrate a point. A `样板` is a “model” to be copied or emulated.
  • Correct: “For example (`比如说`), I like apples.”
  • Incorrect: “For a template (`样板`), I like apples.”
  • A teacher gives you a `例子` of a math problem, but she shows you a `样板` of a perfectly written final paper.
• `样板` vs. `榜样` (bǎngyàng): `榜样` almost exclusively refers to a “role model” (a person). It's aspirational and always positive. `样板` can refer to people, things, or projects, and its connotation can be neutral or even negative. Your father can be your `榜样`, but your report can follow a `样板`.
• Forgetting the Cultural Baggage: The biggest mistake is to assume `样板` is always a neutral word like “template” in English. When talking about art, politics, or official speeches, be aware that using `样板` might subtly imply conformity or a lack of creativity, especially to those who remember the Cultural Revolution.

• 样板戏 (yàngbǎn xì): The “Model Operas.” The most important related term for understanding the cultural weight of `样板`.
• 模板 (múbǎn): A very close synonym, meaning “template.” It is used more often for digital files (website templates, PowerPoint templates) and is more technical, lacking the historical baggage of `样板`.
• 榜样 (bǎngyàng): A role model. Refers specifically to an admirable person whom others should learn from. Always positive.
• 模型 (móxíng): A model, often a physical, 3D representation (like a model airplane `飞机模型`) or an abstract scientific/economic model.
• 例子 (lìzi): An example, an instance. Used to explain or illustrate a point.
• 范例 (fànlì): An exemplar, a classic case. More formal than `例子`, often used in textbooks or academic contexts to show a perfect illustration of a concept.
• 标准 (biāozhǔn): A standard, a criterion. A `样板` is usually created to meet a certain `标准`.