====== zhǎnlǎn: 展览 - Exhibition, Show, Display ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** zhanlan, zhǎnlǎn, 展览, zhan lan Chinese, exhibition in Chinese, art show in Chinese, museum exhibit Chinese, what is a Chinese exhibition, how to say exhibition in Mandarin, Chinese for trade show.
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
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.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**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 Sentences =====
  * **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: **Zhǎnlǎn**guǎn 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.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`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.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[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`).