戏 xì play
play; drama; show
How to remember 戏: 又 again + 戈 dagger = play. Again and again his hand trembles around a cardboard dagger as the shy boy steps on stage for the school play.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
originally 䖒 + 戈
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
戏 = 又 again + 戈 dagger
- 又 again shape only
- 戈 dagger meaning
Again and again his hand trembles around a cardboard dagger as the shy boy steps on stage for the school play.
How it came to be
In the full form the dagger gives the meaning and the left part the sound; the word first meant one wing of an army.
How it is used
- Drama/theatrical performance: 京戏/戏剧 (xìjù, drama), 戏曲 (xìqǔ) traditional Chinese opera.
- 游戏 (yóuxì) is 'game' (including video games): the sense of play, not seriousness.
- 唱戏 (chàngxì) is to perform opera; 看戏 (kànxì) to watch a play.
- Figuratively 有戏/没戏 (yǒuxì/méixì) = there's a chance / no chance of success.
Words with 戏
Example sentences
- 喜欢玩游戏是孩子的天性。 Xǐhuan wánr yóuxì shì háizi de tiānxìng.A fondness for playing games is in the nature of children.