Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== juésè: 角色 - Role, Character, Part ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** juese, 角色, Chinese word for role, Chinese word for character, playing a role in Chinese, role in society Chinese, video game character in Chinese, actor's role in Chinese, Juésè meaning, HSK 4 vocabulary. * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **角色 (juésè)**, meaning "role" or "character." This guide explores its use in movies, video games (like RPGs), business, and society. Understand the cultural significance of "playing your part" in China and how **角色 (juésè)** differs from just being a character in a story to defining your function in your family, at work, and in life. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** juésè * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** 4 * **Concise Definition:** A part played by a person or thing in a particular context, such as in a story, a company, or society. * **In a Nutshell:** **角色 (juésè)** is the word for "role." Think of it in the broadest sense possible. It's the character an actor plays in a film, the character you control in a video game, and also the role you fulfill at your job or in your family (e.g., the "role of a manager" or the "role of an older sibling"). It's all about the specific part you are playing in a given situation. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **角 (jué):** While this character's most common pronunciation is `jiǎo` (meaning "corner" or "horn"), in this specific word, it takes the less common pronunciation `jué` and means "role" or "part," especially in a performance. * **色 (sè):** This character means "color," "look," or "appearance." Combining them, **角色 (juésè)** literally translates to the "role's appearance" or "role's color." It beautifully captures the idea of taking on the persona and appearance of a specific part, whether on stage or in life. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Western cultures, the phrase "playing a role" can sometimes imply being fake or inauthentic. However, in Chinese culture, influenced by Confucian values, properly fulfilling your **角色 (juésè)** is often seen as a virtue. This ties into the traditional concept of **五伦 (Wǔlún)**, the "Five Relationships," which defines proper conduct between: ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, older and younger brother, and between friends. Each person has a clear **角色 (juésè)** with corresponding responsibilities. Fulfilling these roles contributes to social harmony, which is a paramount cultural value. So, while an American might focus on "finding themselves" to be authentic, a traditional Chinese perspective might emphasize "fulfilling your role" as a parent, a student, or an employee to be a good and responsible person. The concept isn't about suppressing your personality, but about understanding and executing your function within a collective for the greater good. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **角色 (juésè)** is an extremely common and versatile word used in many modern contexts. * **Entertainment:** This is the most direct usage. It refers to characters in films, TV shows, plays, and books. * `你最喜欢哪个电影**角色**？` (Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎge diànyǐng **juésè**?) - Which movie character is your favorite? * **Gaming:** It's the standard term for a character in a video game. The genre "RPG" is **角色**扮演游戏 (juésè bànyǎn yóuxì). * `我想创建一个新**角色**。` (Wǒ xiǎng chuàngjiàn yī gè xīn **juésè**.) - I want to create a new character. * **Social & Professional Life:** The word is used metaphorically to describe a person's function or position in a group, company, or society. * `她在团队中扮演着重要的**角色**。` (Tā zài tuánduì zhōng bànyǎn zhe zhòngyào de **juésè**.) - She plays an important role on the team. The connotation is generally neutral and depends entirely on the context. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这位演员能演好任何**角色**。 * Pinyin: Zhè wèi yǎnyuán néng yǎnhǎo rènhé **juésè**. * English: This actor can play any role well. * Analysis: A straightforward use of **角色** in the context of acting and performance. * **Example 2:** * 在《英雄联盟》里，我最喜欢的**角色**是艾希。 * Pinyin: Zài "Yīngxióng Liánméng" lǐ, wǒ zuì xǐhuān de **juésè** shì Àixī. * English: In "League of Legends," my favorite character is Ashe. * Analysis: This shows the standard use of **角色** for a character in a video game. * **Example 3:** * 作为经理，他的**角色**是领导整个团队。 * Pinyin: Zuòwéi jīnglǐ, tā de **juésè** shì lǐngdǎo zhěnggè tuánduì. * English: As a manager, his role is to lead the entire team. * Analysis: Here, **角色** is used to mean a professional function or position. * **Example 4:** * 教育在社会发展中扮演着关键**角色**。 * Pinyin: Jiàoyù zài shèhuì fāzhǎn zhōng bànyǎn zhe guānjiàn **juésè**. * English: Education plays a key role in social development. * Analysis: A more abstract and formal usage, where an inanimate concept (education) has a **角色**. * **Example 5:** * 这个故事里的反派**角色**写得非常复杂。 * Pinyin: Zhè ge gùshì lǐ de fǎnpài **juésè** xiě de fēicháng fùzá. * English: The villain character in this story is written very complexly. * Analysis: Demonstrates how to specify the *type* of role, in this case, a villain (`反派 fǎnpài`). * **Example 6:** * 每个家庭成员都有自己独特的**角色**和责任。 * Pinyin: Měi ge jiātíng chéngyuán dōu yǒu zìjǐ dútè de **juésè** hé zérèn. * English: Every family member has their own unique role and responsibilities. * Analysis: This connects **角色** to the concept of family duties, reflecting the cultural context. * **Example 7:** * 他只是一个配角，不是主角。 * Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì yī gè **pèijué**, bùshì **zhǔjué**. * English: He's just a supporting role, not the main character. * Analysis: This example uses two related words: `配角 (pèijué)` - supporting role, and `主角 (zhǔjué)` - main character/protagonist. Note how both share the character `角 (jué)`. We have bolded them here for clarity, although `角色` is the page's focus. * **Example 8:** * 为了演好这个**角色**，她体验了三个月乡村生活。 * Pinyin: Wèile yǎnhǎo zhège **juésè**, tā tǐyàn le sān ge yuè xiāngcūn shēnghuó. * English: In order to play this character well, she experienced rural life for three months. * Analysis: Shows the dedication associated with "getting into character." * **Example 9:** * 随着科技进步，机器人的**角色**变得越来越重要。 * Pinyin: Suízhe kējì jìnbù, jīqìrén de **juésè** biànde yuèláiyuè zhòngyào. * English: As technology advances, the role of robots is becoming more and more important. * Analysis: Another example of an inanimate object having a metaphorical **角色** in society. * **Example 10:** * 在这次谈判中，你将扮演一个中立的**角色**。 * Pinyin: Zài zhè cì tánpàn zhōng, nǐ jiāng bànyǎn yī gè zhōnglì de **juésè**. * English: In this negotiation, you will play a neutral role. * Analysis: Highlights the combination with the verb `扮演 (bànyǎn)`, which means "to play the part of" or "to act as." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Pronunciation: `juésè` vs. `jiǎosè`** The official, dictionary-standard pronunciation is **juésè**. However, in everyday conversation, you will very frequently hear it pronounced as **jiǎosè**, especially in Taiwan and Southern China. Both are understood, but for formal settings or exams (like the HSK), you should stick to **juésè**. This is because the character `角` is pronounced `jué` for "role" and `jiǎo` for almost all its other meanings ("corner," "horn," "angle"). * **`角色 (juésè)` vs. `人物 (rénwù)`** This is a key distinction. * **角色 (juésè)** is about the *function* or *part* being played. * [[人物]] (rénwù) is about the *person* or *figure* itself, often a notable one. * **Example:** Winston Churchill was a famous historical **人物 (rénwù)**. The actor who portrays him in a movie is playing the **角色 (juésè)** of Churchill. * **"Character" vs. "Personality"** A common mistake for English speakers is using **角色 (juésè)** to mean "personality" or "moral character." This is incorrect. * **Incorrect:** `他有一个好角色。` (Tā yǒu yī gè hǎo juésè.) * **Correct:** To say "He has a good personality," you should use [[性格]] (xìnggé): `他性格很好。` (Tā xìnggé hěn hǎo.) * **Correct:** To say "He has high moral character," you should use `人品 (rénpǐn)`: `他人品很好。` (Tā rénpǐn hěn hǎo.) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[扮演]] (bànyǎn) - (Verb) To play the part of, to act as. This is the verb often used with **角色**. * [[主角]] (zhǔjué) - Main character, protagonist. * [[配角]] (pèijué) - Supporting character/role. * [[人物]] (rénwù) - A person, a figure, a character (in the sense of a personage in a story, not the role itself). * [[身份]] (shēnfèn) - Identity, status. This is related to the "role" one has in society but focuses more on status and official identification. * [[演员]] (yǎnyuán) - Actor, actress. The person whose job is to play a **角色**. * [[职责]] (zhízé) - Duty, responsibility. The specific tasks associated with a professional **角色**. * [[性格]] (xìnggé) - Personality, nature. Describes the traits of a person or character, but is not the role itself.