展示

zhǎnshì: 展示 - To Show, To Display, To Exhibit

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: zhanshi, 展示, how to say display in Chinese, exhibit in Chinese, show, demonstrate, Chinese verb for presentation, showcase, exhibition, HSK 4 vocabulary.
  • Summary: Learn how to use the versatile Chinese word 展示 (zhǎnshì), which means to show, display, or exhibit. This guide explains its core meaning, from business presentations and product demonstrations to art exhibitions and showcasing your talents. Understand the difference between 展示 (zhǎnshì) and similar words like 显示 (xiǎnshì) and learn how to use it correctly in modern China.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǎnshì
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To deliberately show, display, exhibit, or demonstrate something for an audience to see.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 展示 (zhǎnshì) as “putting something on display.” It's more formal and intentional than just casually showing something to a friend. It implies a curated, organized presentation. You would 展示 products at a trade show, 展示 data in a meeting, or 展示 artifacts in a museum. It carries a sense of purpose and professionalism.

Character Breakdown

  • 展 (zhǎn): This character means to unfold, to open up, or to spread out. Picture unfolding a scroll painting or spreading out a map to show its contents.
  • 示 (shì): This character means to show or to reveal. Its ancient form depicted an altar, a place where things were shown to the gods or the people. It carries the meaning of making something known.
  • Together, 展示 (zhǎnshì) literally means “to unfold and show,” a powerful and descriptive combination that perfectly captures the modern meaning of putting something on display for all to see.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • While not a deeply ancient philosophical term, 展示 (zhǎnshì) is highly relevant in modern Chinese society, which places significant value on presentation, performance, and the clear communication of value. In business, a proper 展示 (zhǎnshì) of a product or plan is crucial for building trust and securing deals.
  • Comparison with Western Culture: In English, we might casually “show” a friend a new gadget. This would be a different verb in Chinese (给…看 gěi…kàn). 展示 (zhǎnshì) is closer to the English concepts of “to exhibit,” “to showcase,” or “to demonstrate.” The key difference is the implied audience and intentionality. Using 展示 (zhǎnshì) elevates the action from a casual share to a formal presentation. This reflects a cultural preference for structuring the way information, achievements, or products are presented, especially in professional or public settings. It's about presenting things in their best light, in an organized and respectable manner.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 展示 (zhǎnshì) is a common and useful word, primarily used in neutral-to-formal contexts.
  • Business Context: This is one of its most frequent uses.
    • Product demonstrations: 展示新产品 (zhǎnshì xīn chǎnpǐn) - To demonstrate a new product.
    • Presentations: 在会议上展示报告 (zài huìyì shàng zhǎnshì bàogào) - To present a report at a meeting.
    • Trade shows: 公司会去展示他们的技术 (gōngsī huì qù zhǎnshì tāmen de jìshù) - The company will go exhibit their technology.
  • Arts and Academia:
    • Museums: 博物馆展示了很多文物 (bówùguǎn zhǎnshì le hěn duō wénwù) - The museum exhibits many cultural relics.
    • Art Galleries: 展示一位年轻艺术家的作品 (zhǎnshì yī wèi niánqīng yìshùjiā de zuòpǐn) - To display a young artist's works.
    • Research: 科学家展示了他们的研究成果 (kēxuéjiā zhǎnshì le tāmen de yánjiū chéngguǒ) - The scientists presented their research findings.
  • Personal Abilities:
    • A very common set phrase is 展示才华 (zhǎnshì cáihuá), meaning “to showcase one's talent.” This is often used in the context of competitions, performances, or even job interviews.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 博物馆展示了许多珍贵的古代文物。
    • Pinyin: Bówùguǎn zhǎnshì le xǔduō zhēnguì de gǔdài wénwù.
    • English: The museum displays many precious ancient artifacts.
    • Analysis: A classic and straightforward use of 展示 in the context of an exhibition for the public.
  • Example 2:
    • 他在会议上用PPT向我们展示了他的新项目。
    • Pinyin: Tā zài huìyì shàng yòng PPT xiàng wǒmen zhǎnshì le tā de xīn xiàngmù.
    • English: He used a PowerPoint to present his new project to us at the meeting.
    • Analysis: This highlights its use in a modern business context. The structure “向 (xiàng) + audience + 展示” is common, meaning “to present to someone.”
  • Example 3:
    • 这位设计师展示了她对色彩的独特理解。
    • Pinyin: Zhè wèi shèjìshī zhǎnshì le tā duì sècǎi de dútè lǐjiě.
    • English: This designer showed her unique understanding of color.
    • Analysis: Here, 展示 is used to mean “showcased” or “demonstrated” an abstract quality or skill through her work.
  • Example 4:
    • 销售人员正在向顾客展示如何使用这台新电脑。
    • Pinyin: Xiāoshòu rényuán zhèngzài xiàng gùkè zhǎnshì rúhé shǐyòng zhè tái xīn diànnǎo.
    • English: The salesperson is demonstrating to the customer how to use this new computer.
    • Analysis: This is a practical demonstration, a “how-to.” It's more formal than just “showing” them.
  • Example 5:
    • 每个学生都有机会在舞台上展示自己的才华。
    • Pinyin: Měi ge xuéshēng dōu yǒu jīhuì zài wǔtái shàng zhǎnshì zìjǐ de cáihuá.
    • English: Every student has the opportunity to showcase their talent on stage.
    • Analysis: This uses the common collocation 展示才华 (zhǎnshì cáihuá), referring to skills and abilities.
  • Example 6:
    • 商店的橱窗里展示着本季最新的服装。
    • Pinyin: Shāngdiàn de chúchuāng lǐ zhǎnshì zhe běn jì zuìxīn de fúzhuāng.
    • English: The store's display window is showing this season's latest clothing.
    • Analysis: This shows 展示 used for commercial display. The particle “着 (zhe)” indicates the continuous state of being on display.
  • Example 7:
    • 这份报告清晰地展示了公司的财务状况。
    • Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào qīngxī de zhǎnshì le gōngsī de cáiwù zhuàngkuàng.
    • English: This report clearly shows the company's financial situation.
    • Analysis: Used here for data and information. The report is the tool that presents, or lays bare, the financial facts.
  • Example 8:
    • 他从不轻易向外人展示自己的真实情感。
    • Pinyin: Tā cóngbù qīngyì xiàng wàirén zhǎnshì zìjǐ de zhēnshí qínggǎn.
    • English: He never easily shows his true feelings to outsiders.
    • Analysis: This is a more figurative use, meaning to reveal or openly display one's emotions. It implies a conscious act of letting others see one's inner state.
  • Example 9:
    • 这次科技展览会展示了许多创新技术。
    • Pinyin: Zhè cì kējì zhǎnlǎnhuì zhǎnshì le xǔduō chuàngxīn jìshù.
    • English: This tech expo exhibited many innovative technologies.
    • Analysis: A common context involving a “展览会 (zhǎnlǎnhuì)” or exhibition, where the main purpose is to 展示.
  • Example 10:
    • 建筑师用一个精美的模型来展示大楼建成后的样子。
    • Pinyin: Jiànzhùshī yòng yī ge jīngměi de móxíng lái zhǎnshì dàlóu jiànchéng hòu de yàngzi.
    • English: The architect used an exquisite model to display what the building would look like after completion.
    • Analysis: Highlights the use of a physical object (a model) as the medium for the 展示.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 展示 (zhǎnshì) vs. 给…看 (gěi…kàn): This is the most common pitfall for beginners.
    • 给…看 (gěi…kàn) is casual, meaning “to let someone have a look.”
    • Correct: 我给朋友看我的新手机。(Wǒ gěi péngyou kàn wǒ de xīn shǒujī.) - I'm showing my new phone to my friend.
    • Incorrect and Overly Formal: 我向朋友展示我的新手机。(Wǒ xiàng péngyou zhǎnshì wǒ de xīn shǒujī.) This sounds like you're giving a formal product demonstration to your friend.
  • 展示 (zhǎnshì) vs. 显示 (xiǎnshì): This is a finer distinction.
    • 展示 (zhǎnshì) implies an active, intentional, and often curated presentation. Someone is doing the showing.
    • 显示 (xiǎnshì) means “to show” or “to reveal,” often used for data, screens, or evidence. It can be more passive.
    • Example: 屏幕显示现在是三点。(Píngmù xiǎnshì xiànzài shì sān diǎn.) - The screen shows it's now 3 o'clock. (The screen is passively showing the info).
    • Example: 他在屏幕上展示了销售数据。(Tā zài píngmù shàng zhǎnshì le xiāoshòu shùjù.) - He displayed the sales data on the screen. (He is actively presenting it).
  • 展示 (zhǎnshì) vs. 表现 (biǎoxiàn):
    • 展示 (zhǎnshì) is about showing something (an object, a skill, data).
    • 表现 (biǎoxiàn) is about one's own performance or behavior. It's how you “come across.”
    • Example: 他今天工作表现很好。(Tā jīntiān gōngzuò biǎoxiàn hěn hǎo.) - His work performance was very good today. You wouldn't say his work *展示* was good here.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) - An exhibition or a large-scale fair. A noun describing an event where things are 展示.
  • 显示 (xiǎnshì) - To show, display, reveal. A close synonym often used for data, screens, or results shown by evidence.
  • 演示 (yǎnshì) - To demonstrate. A specific type of 展示 that focuses on showing how something works (a demo).
  • 陈列 (chénliè) - To display, to set out. Refers to the static arrangement of goods in a store or artifacts in a museum case.
  • 出示 (chūshì) - To produce for inspection. Used for things like tickets, passports, or ID cards. “Please show your ticket.”
  • 表现 (biǎoxiàn) - To perform, to behave; performance. Refers to how someone or something acts or does.
  • 秀 (xiù) - A loanword from “show.” Used colloquially for shows, especially fashion shows (时装秀, shí zhuāng xiù), or to say someone is “showing off.”
  • 才华 (cáihuá) - Talent, ability. A noun that is very frequently used as the object of 展示.
  • 发布会 (fābùhuì) - A product launch or press conference. A formal event where new things are 展示 to the public or media.
  • 橱窗 (chúchuāng) - A shop window or display case. A physical place designed specifically for 展示.