直播

• Pinyin: zhí bō
• Hanzi breakdown: 直 = 十 (ten) + 目 (eye) + 一 (one), representing looking straight ahead; 播 = 扌(hand) + 番 (turn/sow)

Meaning

Livestream; live broadcast. To broadcast or watch content in real time.

Originally used for live television broadcasts, now most commonly associated with internet livestreaming. Widely used in e-commerce (直播带货, livestream shopping), entertainment, and social media. Can function as both a verb (to livestream) and a noun (a livestream). Extremely common in modern Chinese digital culture.

Examples

1. 她每天晚上在网上做直播。 She does a livestream online every evening.
2. 这场足球比赛会现场直播。 This football match will be broadcast live.
3. 很多人喜欢看直播买东西。 Many people like to watch livestreams to buy things.

Usage Guide

Context: social media, entertainment, shopping

Tone: modern

Do Say

• 今晚八点有一个直播。(There's a livestream at eight tonight.)
• 她直播卖衣服赚了不少钱。(She made quite a lot of money selling clothes via livestream.)

Don't Say

• 我直播了一个电影。(Don't use 直播 for watching recorded movies — 直播 is only for live, real-time broadcasts; say 看了一个电影 instead)

Origin & History

直 (straight, directly) + 播 (broadcast, sow). Together they mean 'to broadcast directly,' i.e., live broadcasting without delay.

Cultural Context

Generation: Younger generations and all ages

Social background: Universal