zhíbō: 直播 - Live Broadcast, Live Stream

• Keywords: 直播, zhibo, Chinese live stream, what does zhibo mean, live streaming in China, Taobao live, Douyin live, Chinese e-commerce, live broadcast, 主播, zhubo, Chinese influencer
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 直播 (zhíbō), the Chinese term for 'live stream' that's more than just a broadcast—it's a cultural and economic phenomenon. Learn how live streaming in China has revolutionized e-commerce, entertainment, and social interaction, from massive Taobao sales events to daily life on Douyin (TikTok). This guide breaks down the characters, cultural significance, and practical use of 直播, a must-know word for understanding modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhíbō
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To broadcast live; a live broadcast or internet live stream.
• In a Nutshell: 直播 (zhíbō) literally means “direct broadcast.” While it can refer to traditional TV or radio, in modern China, it overwhelmingly means internet live streaming. It's an interactive, real-time event where viewers can comment, ask questions, and even buy products directly from the host. Think of it as the supercharged convergence of QVC, Twitch, and Instagram Live, forming a core pillar of modern Chinese digital life and commerce.

• 直 (zhí): This character's core meaning is “straight,” “direct,” or “upright.” Imagine a straight line—no curves, no delays, no detours. It implies immediacy and a direct connection.
• 播 (bō): This character means “to broadcast,” “to spread,” or “to sow seeds.” It depicts the action of scattering or transmitting something over a wide area, like a radio tower sending out signals or a farmer sowing seeds in a field.
• When combined, 直播 (zhíbō) creates a vivid picture: “direct broadcasting.” It's the act of transmitting information or events directly and instantly as they happen, without editing or delay, straight to the audience.

直播 (zhíbō) is one of the most important terms for understanding contemporary Chinese culture and its digital economy. Its significance goes far beyond its simple translation. While the West has platforms like Twitch for gaming and Instagram for social live streams, China's 直播 ecosystem is on a different scale, particularly in its fusion with commerce. The concept of 直播带货 (zhíbō dài huò)—“selling goods via live stream”—has transformed retail. Influencers, known as 主播 (zhǔbō), can sell millions of dollars worth of products in a single session on platforms like Taobao, Douyin, and Kuaishou. This creates a unique cultural dynamic. The relationship between a 主播 (zhǔbō) and their audience is highly interactive and personal. Viewers don't just watch; they participate through real-time “bullet comments” (弹幕, dànmù) that fly across the screen, ask questions about products, and send virtual gifts (打赏, dǎshǎng) to show support. This blurs the line between entertainment, social connection, and shopping, creating a powerful form of community-driven commerce that is far more integrated into daily life than in the West. It represents a shift from passive consumption to active, community-based participation.

直播 (zhíbō) is used constantly in everyday conversation, on social media, and in business.

You use it to refer to the event itself. `* 你看昨晚的直播了吗？ (Nǐ kàn zuówǎn de zhíbō le ma?) - Did you watch last night's live stream?` `* 这个直播太有意思了！ (Zhège zhíbō tài yǒuyìsi le!) - This live stream is so interesting!`

You use it to describe the action of broadcasting live. `* 我今晚八点要直播。 (Wǒ jīnwǎn bā diǎn yào zhíbō.) - I'm going to live stream at 8 PM tonight.` `* 他靠直播打游戏赚钱。 (Tā kào zhíbō dǎ yóuxì zhuànqián.) - He makes money by live streaming himself playing games.` The term is generally neutral but often carries a positive, modern connotation associated with technology, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

• Example 1:
  • 很多年轻人喜欢看游戏直播。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xǐhuān kàn yóuxì zhíbō.
  • English: Many young people like to watch video game live streams.
  • Analysis: A simple, common use of 直播 as a noun, specifically in the context of gaming, a huge sector of the live streaming industry.
• Example 2:
  • 这位主播今晚要直播卖口红。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi zhǔbō jīnwǎn yào zhíbō mài kǒuhóng.
  • English: This streamer is going to sell lipstick on her live stream tonight.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the e-commerce context. It uses both 主播 (zhǔbō), the streamer, and 直播 (zhíbō) as a verb.
• Example 3:
  • 你关注的那个网红开始直播了，快去看！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ guānzhù de nàge wǎnghóng kāishǐ zhíbō le, kuài qù kàn!
  • English: That internet celebrity you follow has started her live stream, go watch it now!
  • Analysis: This shows the immediacy and social nature of 直播. The phrase `快去看 (kuài qù kàn)` captures the “don't miss out” feeling.
• Example 4:
  • 我在李佳琦的直播间里买了很多东西。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài Lǐ Jiāqí de zhíbōjiān li mǎi le hěn duō dōngxi.
  • English: I bought a lot of things in Li Jiaqi's live stream room.
  • Analysis: Mentions a real, famous streamer (Li Jiaqi, the “Lipstick King”) and introduces the related term 直播间 (zhíbōjiān), the virtual “room” where the stream happens.
• Example 5:
  • 新闻发布会正在全球同步直播。
  • Pinyin: Xīnwén fābùhuì zhèngzài quánqiú tóngbù zhíbō.
  • English: The press conference is being broadcast live globally.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a more formal usage of 直播, similar to the English “live broadcast,” for official events.
• Example 6:
  • 昨天的直播信号不太好，总是卡。
  • Pinyin: Zuótiān de zhíbō xìnhào bù tài hǎo, zǒngshì kǎ.
  • English: The signal for yesterday's live stream wasn't very good; it kept freezing.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence discussing the technical quality of a stream. `卡 (kǎ)` is slang for “to lag” or “to freeze.”
• Example 7:
  • 他每天花太多时间看直播，都影响学习了。
  • Pinyin: Tā měi tiān huā tài duō shíjiān kàn zhíbō, dōu yǐngxiǎng xuéxí le.
  • English: He spends too much time watching live streams every day, it's affecting his studies.
  • Analysis: Shows a potential negative connotation, highlighting the addictive nature of live stream entertainment.
• Example 8:
  • 你可以在任何直播平台免费注册账号。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ zài rènhé zhíbō píngtái miǎnfèi zhùcè zhànghào.
  • English: You can register for an account for free on any live streaming platform.
  • Analysis: Introduces the useful compound noun 直播平台 (zhíbō píngtái), meaning “live streaming platform.”
• Example 9:
  • 观众可以通过发弹幕和主播互动。
  • Pinyin: Guānzhòng kěyǐ tōngguò fā dànmù hé zhǔbō hùdòng.
  • English: The audience can interact with the streamer by sending “bullet comments.”
  • Analysis: This sentence explains the core interactive mechanism of Chinese live streams, linking 直播 to the concepts of 弹幕 (dànmù) and 主播 (zhǔbō).
• Example 10:
  • 这次直播的目的是为慈善机构筹款。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì zhíbō de mùdì shì wèi císhàn jīgòu chóukuǎn.
  • English: The purpose of this live stream is to raise funds for a charity organization.
  • Analysis: Shows that 直播 is a versatile tool that can be used for social good, not just for commerce or entertainment.

• 直播 (zhíbō) vs. 视频 (shìpín): This is the most critical distinction for a learner.
  • 直播 (zhíbō) is LIVE and happening in real-time.
  • 视频 (shìpín) is a pre-recorded VIDEO.
  • Incorrect: `我昨晚看了一个他的新直播。` (I watched a new live stream of his last night.) → This is awkward. If it was pre-recorded and you're watching it after the fact, you'd call it a replay `(回放, huífàng)` or just say you watched the content. If it's a new, edited video, it's a `视频`.
  • Correct: `我昨晚看了他的直播。` (I watched his live stream last night.)
  • Correct: `我看了他昨天上传的新视频。` (I watched the new video he uploaded yesterday.)
• “Broadcast” vs. 直播: While “broadcast” is a valid translation, in modern English it often evokes images of traditional TV or radio networks (like the BBC or NBC). In contrast, 直播 (zhíbō) in modern Chinese almost always refers to internet-based live streaming. Using “broadcast” can sometimes miss the specific digital, interactive, and commerce-driven context of 直播.

• 主播 (zhǔbō) - The host, anchor, or streamer. The person at the center of the 直播.
• 直播带货 (zhíbō dài huò) - “Live stream to sell goods.” The massive e-commerce phenomenon built on 直播.
• 网红 (wǎnghóng) - “Internet celebrity” or influencer. Most 主播 are or aspire to be 网红.
• 弹幕 (dànmù) - “Bullet comments.” The real-time comments that fly across the screen, a key feature of interactive streaming.
• 打赏 (dǎshǎng) - To give a virtual gift or tip to a streamer as a sign of appreciation.
• 粉丝 (fěnsī) - Fans (a phonetic loanword from English). The audience of a 直播.
• 视频 (shìpín) - Video. The opposite of 直播 in that it is pre-recorded.
• 平台 (píngtái) - Platform. Often used in 直播平台 (live streaming platform) like Douyin or Taobao.
• 抖音 (Dǒuyīn) - The Chinese version of TikTok, a primary platform for entertainment and e-commerce 直播.
• 淘宝 (Táobǎo) - China's largest e-commerce site, which pioneered 直播带货 through its Taobao Live feature.