京剧

• Pinyin: jīng jù
• Hanzi breakdown: 京 = a pictograph of a tall building or watchtower, meaning capital city; 剧 = 豦 (phonetic) + 刂 (knife), meaning drama

Meaning

Peking opera; Beijing opera. The most famous form of traditional Chinese opera, combining singing, acting, acrobatics, and martial arts.

One of the most representative art forms of Chinese culture, originating in Beijing over 200 years ago. Performers wear elaborate costumes and face paint with symbolic colours. Unlike Western opera, 京剧 features highly stylised movements, singing in specific vocal styles, and acrobatic combat scenes.

Examples

1. 爷爷最喜欢听京剧。 Grandpa loves listening to Peking opera.
2. 京剧是中国的国粹之一。 Peking opera is one of China's national treasures.
3. 我在北京看了一场京剧表演。 I watched a Peking opera performance in Beijing.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, traditional arts, entertainment

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 你看过京剧吗？(Have you ever watched Peking opera?)
• 京剧演员的化妆非常漂亮。(The makeup of Peking opera actors is very beautiful.)

Don't Say

• 我昨天看了京剧电影在电视上。(Word order is awkward — say 我昨天在电视上看了京剧 with the location phrase before the verb.)

Origin & History

Compound of 京 (capital, short for 北京 Beijing) and 剧 (drama, play). Named after its origin city, Beijing, where it developed in the late 18th century from various regional opera traditions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal