| |
| 晚会 [2025/08/10 08:37] – created xiaoer | 晚会 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
|---|
| ====== wǎnhuì: 晚会 - Evening Party, Gala, Soirée ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** wanhui, wǎnhuì, 晚会, Chinese evening party, Chinese gala, what is a wanhui, CCTV New Year's Gala, 春晚, 年会, Chinese company party, 晚会 vs 派对 | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the meaning of **晚会 (wǎnhuì)**, a key term in Chinese culture for an evening party, gala, or soirée. A `晚会` is more than a simple get-together; it's a structured event, often featuring performances, speeches, and a shared meal. From the spectacular national Spring Festival Gala (春晚) to company annual dinners (年会) and school celebrations, understanding `晚会` offers a window into Chinese social life and collective celebration. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wǎnhuì | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A formal or semi-formal evening gathering, often featuring performances, speeches, and sometimes a celebratory meal. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Don't think of a `晚会` as a casual house party. Instead, picture a company awards night, a school talent show, or a televised holiday special. It's a planned event with a schedule, hosts (MCs), and a clear distinction between performers and the audience. The focus is on shared entertainment and celebrating a specific occasion as a group. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **晚 (wǎn):** This character means "evening," "night," or "late." The left side is the "sun" radical (日), indicating a connection to the time of day. The right side provides the sound and hints at "remoteness," like the sun being gone. | |
| * **会 (huì):** This character means "to meet," "gathering," or "assembly." It visually suggests people coming together under one roof. | |
| * Together, **晚会 (wǎnhuì)** literally translates to an "evening gathering," a perfect description of what it is. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| The `晚会` is a cornerstone of collective celebration in China. Unlike a Western "party," which often emphasizes individual mingling and free-flowing conversation, the `晚会` is a structured, shared experience that reinforces group identity and harmony. | |
| * **Comparison to a Western "Party":** A Western party (`派对 pàiduì`) is typically informal and decentralized—people chat in small groups, dance, and move around freely. A `晚会`, however, is centralized. The audience sits and watches a stage where a series of scheduled performances (`节目 jiémù`) and speeches take place. It's about collective viewing and appreciation, not individual interaction. | |
| * **Reinforcing Values:** This format reflects key cultural values. | |
| * **Collectivism:** The `晚会` brings everyone together for a single, unified experience. The most famous example, the Spring Festival Gala (`春晚 chūnwǎn`), is watched by hundreds of millions, creating a powerful sense of national unity. | |
| * **Hierarchy and Respect:** In a company `晚会` (`年会 niánhuì`), the seating arrangement, the order of speeches from leaders, and the awarding of prizes all reinforce the company's structure and show respect for seniority. | |
| * **Face (`面子 miànzi`):** A grand, well-organized `晚会` brings "face" to the host organization, be it a company, school, or TV station. It's a public display of success and capability. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `晚会` is a common word you'll encounter in various contexts: | |
| * **Company Events:** The most common is the **年会 (niánhuì)**, or annual meeting/gala, held before the Chinese New Year. It's a major event for boosting morale, with employee performances, lucky draws (`抽奖 chōujiǎng`), and speeches from the boss. | |
| * **School Events:** Schools hold `晚会` to welcome new students (`迎新晚会 yíngxīn wǎnhuì`), celebrate anniversaries, or for graduation. | |
| * **Televised Galas:** Major holidays are marked by large-scale televised `晚会`. The most prominent are the **春节联欢晚会 (chūnjié liánhuān wǎnhuì)**, also known as `春晚 (chūnwǎn)`, and the **中秋晚会 (zhōngqiū wǎnhuì)** for the Mid-Autumn Festival. | |
| * **Formality:** A `晚会` is almost never a casual, "drop-by-whenever" event. It has a start time, a program, and is generally considered a semi-formal occasion. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 我们公司下周五有新年**晚会**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī xià zhōuwǔ yǒu xīnnián **wǎnhuì**. | |
| * English: Our company is having a New Year's gala next Friday. | |
| * Analysis: This is a very common use case, referring to a company's annual celebration (`年会`). | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 你准备在迎新**晚会**上表演什么节目？ | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ zhǔnbèi zài yíngxīn **wǎnhuì** shàng biǎoyǎn shénme jiémù? | |
| * English: What program are you preparing to perform at the welcome party for new students? | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the performance-based nature of a `晚会`. `迎新晚会` is a "welcoming new people gala," common in schools and companies. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 今年的春节**晚会**你看了吗？ | |
| * Pinyin: Jīnnián de chūnjié **wǎnhuì** nǐ kànle ma? | |
| * English: Did you watch this year's Spring Festival Gala? | |
| * Analysis: `春节晚会` (or `春晚`) is a fixed term for the most-watched TV program in the world. Using `看 (kàn)` "to watch" is appropriate here. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * **晚会**几点开始？ | |
| * Pinyin: **Wǎnhuì** jǐdiǎn kāishǐ? | |
| * English: What time does the evening gala start? | |
| * Analysis: A simple and practical question. Note the use of `开始 (kāishǐ)` for "to start," indicating a formal event schedule. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 他被邀请去主持中秋**晚会**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā bèi yāoqǐng qù zhǔchí zhōngqiū **wǎnhuì**. | |
| * English: He was invited to host the Mid-Autumn Festival gala. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence introduces the role of a host (`主持 zhǔchí`), which is essential for any `晚会`. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这场**晚会**太精彩了，特别是那个舞蹈表演。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè chǎng **wǎnhuì** tài jīngcǎi le, tèbié shì nàge wǔdǎo biǎoyǎn. | |
| * English: This gala was brilliant, especially that dance performance. | |
| * Analysis: `场 (chǎng)` is the correct measure word for events like a `晚会` or a movie. `精彩 (jīngcǎi)` means "brilliant" or "spectacular." | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 为了毕业**晚会**，同学们准备了好几个星期。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wèile bìyè **wǎnhuì**, tóngxuémen zhǔnbèile hǎojǐ gè xīngqī. | |
| * English: The students prepared for several weeks for the graduation gala. | |
| * Analysis: This shows that organizing a `晚会` is a significant undertaking. `毕业晚会 (bìyè wǎnhuì)` is a graduation gala. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 抱歉，我今晚去不了你的派对，我要参加一个慈善**晚会**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Bàoqiàn, wǒ jīnwǎn qùbuliǎo nǐ de pàiduì, wǒ yào cānjiā yíge císhàn **wǎnhuì**. | |
| * English: Sorry, I can't go to your party tonight, I have to attend a charity gala. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts `派对 (pàiduì)` (a casual party) with a formal `慈善晚会 (císhàn wǎnhuì)` (charity gala). | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * **晚会**的门票很贵，但很值得。 | |
| * Pinyin: **Wǎnhuì** de ménpiào hěn guì, dàn hěn zhídé. | |
| * English: The tickets for the gala are expensive, but it's well worth it. | |
| * Analysis: For some exclusive or professional `晚会`, you may need to buy tickets (`门票 ménpiào`). | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 整个**晚会**的气氛非常热烈。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhěnggè **wǎnhuì** de qìfēn fēicháng rèliè. | |
| * English: The atmosphere of the entire gala was very enthusiastic. | |
| * Analysis: `气氛 (qìfēn)` means "atmosphere," and `热烈 (rèliè)` means "enthusiastic" or "ardent," a common way to describe a successful `晚会`. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing **晚会 (wǎnhuì)** with **派对 (pàiduì)**. | |
| * **晚会 (wǎnhuì):** Structured, performance-based, semi-formal/formal, large group, shared focus on a stage. | |
| * Think: Gala, variety show, awards ceremony, televised special. | |
| * **派对 (pàiduì):** A loanword from the English "party." Casual, social, decentralized, focus on mingling and conversation. | |
| * Think: Birthday party, house party, casual get-together. | |
| **Incorrect Usage:** | |
| * **Mistake:** 我要在家里开一个生日**晚会**。(Wǒ yào zài jiālǐ kāi yíge shēngrì **wǎnhuì**.) - "I'm going to throw a birthday **gala** at my house." | |
| * **Why it's wrong:** This sounds overly grand and formal for a typical birthday party at home. Unless you've hired performers and set up a stage in your living room, it's not a `晚会`. | |
| * **Correct Version:** 我要在家里开一个生日**派对**。(Wǒ yào zài jiālǐ kāi yíge shēngrì **pàiduì**.) - "I'm going to throw a birthday **party** at my house." | |
| You "attend" (`参加 cānjiā`) or "watch" (`看 kàn`) a `晚会`, but you typically don't "throw" one yourself unless you are part of an organization. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[派对]] (pàiduì) - The direct counterpart: a Western-style, casual "party." | |
| * [[春晚]] (chūnwǎn) - The ultimate `晚会`; the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. An abbreviation for `春节联欢晚会`. | |
| * [[年会]] (niánhuì) - The company annual meeting/gala, a very common type of `晚会`. | |
| * [[聚会]] (jùhuì) - A general term for "a gathering" or "get-together." It's a broader, more neutral term that can cover both a `晚会` and a `派对`. | |
| * [[节目]] (jiémù) - A "program" or "performance item" on a list. The individual acts that make up a `晚会`. | |
| * [[表演]] (biǎoyǎn) - "To perform" or a "performance." The core activity of a `晚会`. | |
| * [[主持人]] (zhǔchírén) - The "host," "MC," or "emcee" who guides the `晚会`. | |
| * [[联欢]] (liánhuān) - "To have a celebration together." This word emphasizes joy and communion, often found in the full names of galas. | |
| * [[庆典]] (qìngdiǎn) - A "celebration" or "ceremony," often more formal and grand than a `晚会`, like a national day celebration. | |