剧场

• Pinyin: jù chǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 剧 = 豦 (phonetic) + 刂 (knife), meaning drama; 场 = 土 (earth) + 昜 (to expand), meaning an open space or venue

Meaning

Theatre; playhouse. A building or venue where plays, operas, and other performances are staged.

Refers specifically to the physical building or venue where live performances take place. Unlike 电影院 (cinema), 剧场 is for live performances. Can also be used figuratively, as in 人生剧场 (theatre of life).

Examples

1. 这个剧场可以坐一千多人。 This theatre can seat over a thousand people.
2. 我们在剧场门口见面吧。 Let's meet at the entrance of the theatre.
3. 这座剧场已经有一百年的历史了。 This theatre is already a hundred years old.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, culture, venues

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 今晚剧场里有一场精彩的演出。(There's a wonderful performance at the theatre tonight.)
• 那个剧场的音响效果很好。(That theatre has great acoustics.)

Don't Say

• 我去剧场看电影。(Don't confuse 剧场 with 电影院 — 剧场 is for live performances. For movies, say 我去电影院看电影.)

Origin & History

Compound of 剧 (drama, play) and 场 (field, place, venue). Literally 'drama venue' — the place where performances happen.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal