台词

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táicí: 台词 - (Actor's) Lines, Script, Dialogue

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: táicí, 台词, Chinese for actor's lines, script in Chinese, movie dialogue, play script, learn Chinese, what does taici mean, memorize lines in Chinese, Chinese acting, Chinese film.
  • Summary: In Chinese, 台词 (táicí) is the essential term for an actor's lines in a movie, play, or TV show. It refers to the specific words a character speaks, from a single phrase to an entire monologue. Understanding táicí is crucial for anyone interested in Chinese media, as memorizing and analyzing dialogue is a fantastic way to improve language skills and appreciate the art of Chinese acting. This page will break down its meaning, cultural importance, and practical use.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): táicí
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: The scripted words spoken by a character in a performance.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 台词 (táicí) as the direct Chinese equivalent of the English word “lines” in the context of acting. It's the “what to say” part of any performance. When you watch a movie and a character delivers a powerful speech, you're hearing their 台词. It can refer to one specific line, a character's dialogue in a scene, or all the spoken parts within a script.

Character Breakdown

  • 台 (tái): This character's most relevant meaning here is “stage,” “platform,” or “terrace.” It originally depicted a high platform or tower, which is a fitting image for a performance space.
  • 词 (cí): This character means “word,” “phrase,” or “term.” It's a fundamental component of language.
  • When combined, 台词 (táicí) literally translates to “stage words.” This paints a clear and logical picture of its meaning: words that are meant to be spoken on a stage or in a performance setting.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The Importance of “Line Foundation” (台词功底): In Chinese acting circles, an actor's 台词功底 (táicí gōngdǐ), or their “foundational skill in line delivery,” is highly prized. This goes beyond simple memorization. It encompasses pronunciation, rhythm, emotional weight, and the ability to convey a character's inner world through voice alone. Critics and audiences will often praise or condemn a performance based on the quality of the actor's line delivery, sometimes even more so than their physical acting.
  • Cultural Comparison: While Western acting certainly values vocal performance, there can sometimes be a greater emphasis on naturalism, improvisation, or method acting. In the Chinese tradition, especially in classically-trained theater, the perfect and powerful recitation of the written 台词 is often seen as the pinnacle of the craft. A great actor makes the scripted words sound both poetic and profoundly real.
  • From Screen to Street: Iconic 台词 from popular movies and TV shows frequently become part of the national lexicon. These 经典台词 (jīngdiǎn táicí), or “classic lines,” are used as catchphrases, jokes, and cultural references in everyday conversation, much like how “I'll be back” or “May the Force be with you” function in English.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • In the Entertainment Industry: This is the standard term used by actors, directors, screenwriters, and fans. You'll hear it constantly when discussing a film or play. For example: “The director asked me to revise this line of dialogue (这句台词).”
  • For Language Learners: Memorizing and practicing 台词 from Chinese dramas or movies (a practice known as 背台词, bèi táicí) is an extremely effective learning method. It helps master natural intonation, rhythm, and vocabulary in a specific context.
  • Metaphorical Use: In daily life, if someone says something that sounds overly dramatic, rehearsed, or insincere, you might jokingly ask, “这是你的台词吗？(Zhè shì nǐ de táicí ma?)” - “Is that your line?” It implies the person isn't speaking from the heart but is instead delivering a pre-planned speech.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 演员在开拍前必须背熟台词。
    • Pinyin: Yǎnyuán zài kāipāi qián bìxū bèi shú táicí.
    • English: The actor must thoroughly memorize their lines before shooting begins.
    • Analysis: This shows the most common use of the word. 背台词 (bèi táicí), “to memorize lines,” is a set phrase every learner should know.
  • Example 2:
    • 这部电影里有很多经典台词，大家都喜欢引用。
    • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng lǐ yǒu hěnduō jīngdiǎn táicí, dàjiā dōu xǐhuān yǐnyòng.
    • English: This movie has many classic lines that everyone loves to quote.
    • Analysis: Highlights the concept of 经典台词 (jīngdiǎn táicí), or iconic lines that enter popular culture.
  • Example 3:
    • 她的台词功底很好，每个字都说得很清楚，感情也很到位。
    • Pinyin: Tā de táicí gōngdǐ hěn hǎo, měi ge zì dōu shuō de hěn qīngchǔ, gǎnqíng yě hěn dàowèi.
    • English: Her line delivery skills are excellent; every word is clear and the emotion is spot-on.
    • Analysis: This introduces the important cultural concept of 台词功底 (táicí gōngdǐ), the foundational skill of delivering lines.
  • Example 4:
    • 我忘了下一句台词是什么了！
    • Pinyin: Wǒ wàng le xià yí jù táicí shì shénme le!
    • English: I forgot what the next line is!
    • Analysis: A simple, practical sentence an actor (or a language learner practicing a script) might say.
  • Example 5:
    • 编剧花了好几个月才写完所有角色的台词。
    • Pinyin: Biānjù huāle hǎo jǐ ge yuè cái xiě wán suǒyǒu juésè de táicí.
    • English: The screenwriter spent several months finishing the lines for all the characters.
    • Analysis: This sentence clarifies that 台词 are the parts of the script that are written by a 编剧 (biānjù), or screenwriter.
  • Example 6:
    • 虽然他只是个配角，但他的台词写得非常出彩。
    • Pinyin: Suīrán tā zhǐshì ge pèijué, dàn tā de táicí xiě de fēicháng chūcǎi.
    • English: Although he's just a supporting character, his lines are written brilliantly.
    • Analysis: Shows how you can comment on the quality of the lines themselves, separating the writing from the performance.
  • Example 7:
    • 你刚才说的那番话，听起来不像是真心话，倒像是准备好的台词。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ gāngcái shuō de nà fān huà, tīng qǐlái bú xiàng shì zhēnxīn huà, dào xiàng shì zhǔnbèi hǎo de táicí.
    • English: What you just said didn't sound like it came from the heart, but rather like a prepared line.
    • Analysis: This is a perfect example of the word's metaphorical use, implying insincerity or a rehearsed speech.
  • Example 8:
    • 导演让演员用更愤怒的语气说出这句台词。
    • Pinyin: Dǎoyǎn ràng yǎnyuán yòng gèng fènnù de yǔqì shuō chū zhè jù táicí.
    • English: The director told the actor to say this line with a more furious tone.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates how the word is used in the context of directing and performance coaching.
  • Example 9:
    • 在这部话剧中，我只有一句台词。
    • Pinyin: Zài zhè bù huàjù zhōng, wǒ zhǐyǒu yí jù táicí.
    • English: In this play, I only have one line.
    • Analysis: A simple sentence showing that 台词 can be quantified with measure words like 句 (jù).
  • Example 10:
    • 有些台词因为审查而被迫修改了。
    • Pinyin: Yǒu xiē táicí yīnwèi shěnchá ér bèi pò xiūgǎi le.
    • English: Some lines were forced to be changed due to censorship.
    • Analysis: This provides context on the practical realities of media production in China.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 台词 (táicí) vs. 剧本 (jùběn) - The Most Common Mistake:
    • 台词 (táicí) refers specifically to the dialogue or spoken words.
    • 剧本 (jùběn) refers to the entire script or screenplay, which includes dialogue, character descriptions, scene settings, and stage directions.
    • Think of it this way: The 台词 are inside the 剧本.
    • Correct Usage: 我看完了整个剧本 (jùběn)，现在开始背我的台词 (táicí)。 (I've finished reading the entire script, now I'm starting to memorize my lines.)
    • Incorrect Usage: Don't say “I'm reading the 台词” if you mean you're reading the whole script with scene directions. In that case, you should use 剧本 (jùběn).
  • 台词 (táicí) vs. 话 (huà):
    • 台词 (táicí) is exclusively for performance.
    • 话 (huà) is the general word for “words,” “speech,” or “talk” in any normal conversation.
    • You would never use 台词 to refer to a real-life conversation. For instance, you would say “我想跟你说几句话 (Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ shuō jǐ jù huà)” - “I want to have a few words with you,” not “I want to have a few 台词 with you.”

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 剧本 (jùběn) - The entire screenplay or script, including more than just the dialogue.
  • 对白 (duìbái) - Dialogue. Often used as a synonym for 台词, but can specifically emphasize a conversation between two or more characters.
  • 背台词 (bèi táicí) - A key verb-object phrase meaning “to memorize lines.”
  • 台词功底 (táicí gōngdǐ) - The highly valued foundational skill of an actor's line delivery.
  • 经典台词 (jīngdiǎn táicí) - Classic, iconic, or famous lines from a performance.
  • 演员 (yǎnyuán) - Actor or actress; the person who delivers the 台词.
  • 导演 (dǎoyǎn) - Director; the person who guides the actor's delivery of the 台词.
  • 电影 (diànyǐng) - Movie. A common medium where you find 台词.
  • 电视剧 (diànshìjù) - TV Series / TV drama. Another primary source of 台词.
  • 编剧 (biānjù) - Screenwriter; the person who writes the 台词.