阵容

• Pinyin: zhèn róng
• Hanzi breakdown: 阵 = 阝(mound/side radical) + 车 (chariot — originally a battle formation with chariots); 容 = 宀 + 谷 (contain/appearance — a face that holds expressions)

Meaning

A lineup; the composition and quality of a team, cast, or group assembled for a purpose.

Commonly used for film casts (演员阵容), sports teams (球队阵容), and event performers. The term carries a sense of impressiveness — a weak group would not typically be called 阵容豪华.

Examples

1. 这部电影的演员阵容堪称豪华，吸引了大批观众。 The film’s cast is truly star-studded, drawing huge crowds.
2. 国家队的阵容经过调整后，整体实力明显增强。 After the national team adjusted its lineup, its overall strength improved noticeably.
3. 今年参赛的选手阵容强大，竞争将十分激烈。 This year’s field of competitors is strong, so the competition will be intense.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, entertainment, events

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这支球队今年的出场阵容令人期待。(This team's lineup this year is exciting to look forward to.)
• 演出阵容强大，门票早已售罄。(The performance lineup is impressive — tickets sold out long ago.)

Don't Say

• 小组的阵容只有三个人 — 阵容 implies an impressive or notable assembly; for a small ordinary group, use 成员 (members) or 人员构成 (personnel composition)

Origin & History

阵 (formation/array) + 容 (appearance/makeup) — the visual and compositional appearance of a formation

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal