歌剧

• Pinyin: gē jù
• Hanzi breakdown: 歌 = 哥 (phonetic — song) + 欠 (mouth/breath — singing); 剧 = 居 (dwell — stage setting) + 刂 (knife — dramatic tension)

Meaning

Opera; a form of dramatic performance in which singing is the principal mode of expression.

Refers primarily to Western opera (Italian, German, French traditions), though China has developed its own operatic traditions. Distinct from 京剧 (Peking opera) and 戏曲 (traditional Chinese opera). 歌剧院 means opera house. Major international productions are regularly staged at venues such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Examples

1. 这部由意大利作曲家创作的歌剧在北京首演，座无虚席，掌声经久不息。 This opera by an Italian composer premiered in Beijing to a sold-out house, and the applause went on and on.
2. 她自幼学习美声唱法，立志成为一名活跃于国际舞台的歌剧女高音。 She studied bel canto from an early age and is determined to become an opera soprano active on the international stage.
3. 歌剧融合了音乐、戏剧与舞台美术，是世界上最综合性的表演艺术形式之一。 Opera combines music, drama, and stage design, making it one of the most comprehensive performing arts in the world.

Usage Guide

Context: arts, music, culture, performance

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这部歌剧改编自同名文学名著，舞台布景宏大，演员阵容星光熠熠。(This opera is adapted from the literary classic of the same name — the stage design is grand and the cast is star-studded.)
• 欣赏歌剧不仅要了解剧情，更应体会演唱者对人物情感的诠释与表达。(Appreciating opera requires not only understanding the plot, but also feeling how the singer interprets the character's emotions.)

Don't Say

• 歌剧等于京剧 — 歌剧 refers to Western-style opera; 京剧 is Peking opera, a distinct Chinese art form with entirely different conventions

Origin & History

歌 = 哥 + 欠 (song, singing); 剧 = 居 + 刂 (drama, theatrical play)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal