jiémù: 節目 / 节目 - Program, Item, Performance

• Keywords: jiemu, 节目, Chinese for program, TV show in Chinese, performance in Chinese, event item, what does jiemu mean, Chinese entertainment vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 节目 (jiémù), which means “program,” “performance,” or “item on a schedule.” This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners, covering everything from TV shows and talent competitions to individual acts in a gala. Discover its cultural significance, see practical example sentences, and learn to avoid common mistakes to talk about entertainment like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiémù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 3
• Concise Definition: A program, performance, event, or an item on a schedule.
• In a Nutshell: 节目 (jiémù) is your go-to noun for any distinct segment of entertainment or activity. Think of it as the “thing” you watch or experience. It could be a TV show, a song in a concert, a magic act, an acrobatics display, or even an item on a meeting agenda. It's a broad and incredibly useful word for everyday conversation about media and events.

• 节 (jié): This character's original form depicts sections of a bamboo stalk. From this, it gets its core meaning of a “section,” “segment,” or “part.” It also extends to mean “festival” (a specific section of the year, like 春节 - Chūnjié, the Spring Festival) and “to be moderate/to save.”
• 目 (mù): This is a pictogram of an eye. It means “eye,” but it also means “item,” “list,” or “catalog,” as in a list of things you can see.
• The two characters combine beautifully: 节 (jié), a section, and 目 (mù), an item. Together, 节目 (jiémù) literally means “sectional items” or “items in a list.” This perfectly captures the idea of a program, which is just one item on a larger schedule or broadcast.

In China, shared media experiences are a cornerstone of cultural life, and 节目 (jiémù) is the word at the heart of it. The most significant example is the CCTV New Year's Gala (中央电视台春节联欢晚会, or 春晚 - Chūnwǎn). Watching the Chūnwǎn on New Year's Eve is a deeply ingrained tradition for hundreds of millions of families. While a Westerner might compare this to watching the Super Bowl, the cultural weight is different. The Chūnwǎn is less about competition and more about a shared national experience that reinforces family and cultural unity. The individual performances—the 节目 (jiémù)—within the gala are scrutinized, celebrated, and become national talking points for weeks. A performer's success in their 节目 can launch them into superstardom overnight. Discussing which 节目 you liked or disliked is a common way to connect with friends, colleagues, and family after the holiday, reflecting a collective cultural consumption that is much more centralized than in the West.

节目 (jiémù) is used constantly in everyday life. Its usage is generally neutral and depends on the context.

• Television and Radio: This is the most common context.
  • `电视节目 (diànshì jiémù)` - TV program
  • `广播节目 (guǎngbō jiémù)` - Radio program
  • `综艺节目 (zōngyì jiémù)` - Variety show
  • `谈话节目 (tánhuà jiémù)` - Talk show
• Live Performances and Events: It refers to a specific act or item on the event's schedule.
  • `今天的晚会一共有十个节目。` (Today's evening gala has ten performances in total.)
  • `下一个节目是魔术表演。` (The next item on the program is a magic show.)
• Formality: The word itself is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations. The formality is usually conveyed by the surrounding words. Adjectives are often used to describe it, e.g., `精彩的节目 (jīngcǎi de jiémù)` meaning “a brilliant/wonderful program.”

• Example 1:
  • 这是什么节目？
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì shénme jiémù?
  • English: What program is this?
  • Analysis: A simple, common question you might ask when you walk in on someone watching TV.
• Example 2:
  • 我很喜欢看这个电视节目。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hěn xǐhuān kàn zhège diànshì jiémù.
  • English: I really like watching this TV program.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence for expressing your preference for a show. `这个 (zhège)` is the measure word for `节目`.
• Example 3:
  • 春晚有很多精彩的节目。
  • Pinyin: Chūnwǎn yǒu hěnduō jīngcǎi de jiémù.
  • English: The Spring Festival Gala has many wonderful performances.
  • Analysis: Here, `精彩 (jīngcǎi)` is a key adjective used to praise a `节目`. This is a very common topic of conversation around Chinese New Year.
• Example 4:
  • 下一个节目是谁表演？
  • Pinyin: Xià yí ge jiémù shì shéi biǎoyǎn?
  • English: Who is performing the next act/item?
  • Analysis: This example highlights the difference between `节目` (the item/noun) and `表演 (biǎoyǎn)` (to perform/verb).
• Example 5:
  • 你平时喜欢看哪种节目？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ píngshí xǐhuān kàn nǎ zhǒng jiémù?
  • English: What kind of programs do you usually like to watch?
  • Analysis: `哪种 (nǎ zhǒng)` means “which kind,” a useful phrase for asking about tastes in entertainment.
• Example 6:
  • 今天的才艺秀，我觉得她的舞蹈是最好的节目。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de cáiyì xiù, wǒ juéde tā de wǔdǎo shì zuì hǎo de jiémù.
  • English: In today's talent show, I think her dance was the best performance.
  • Analysis: This shows how `节目` can refer to a single, specific performance within a larger show (`才艺秀 - cáiyì xiù`, talent show).
• Example 7:
  • 这个访谈节目邀请了很多有名的嘉宾。
  • Pinyin: Zhège fǎngtán jiémù yāoqǐngle hěnduō yǒumíng de jiābīn.
  • English: This interview program invited a lot of famous guests.
  • Analysis: `访谈 (fǎngtán)` means interview. This demonstrates how you can specify the type of `节目`.
• Example 8:
  • 这个节目的收视率很高。
  • Pinyin: Zhège jiémù de shōushìlǜ hěn gāo.
  • English: This program's viewership ratings are very high.
  • Analysis: `收视率 (shōushìlǜ)` is a useful, more advanced word meaning “viewership rating.”
• Example 9:
  • 他们为公司年会准备了一个特别的节目。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen wèi gōngsī niánhuì zhǔnbèile yí ge tèbié de jiémù.
  • English: They prepared a special performance for the company's annual party.
  • Analysis: Shows that `节目` isn't just for professional TV. It's also used for amateur performances at events like a `年会 (niánhuì)`, or annual company party.
• Example 10:
  • 这期节目的主题是环境保护。
  • Pinyin: Zhè qī jiémù de zhǔtí shì huánjìng bǎohù.
  • English: The theme of this episode/program is environmental protection.
  • Analysis: Introduces the measure word `期 (qī)`, which is used for regularly scheduled things like magazines or programs, similar to “episode” or “issue.”

• 节目 (jiémù) vs. 表演 (biǎoyǎn): This is a crucial distinction.
  • 节目 (jiémù) is the noun for the thing being performed. It's the “act,” the “item,” the “program.” You watch a 节目.
  • 表演 (biǎoyǎn) is the verb “to perform,” or the noun for the “act of performing.” Someone 表演s a 节目.
  • Incorrect: `我喜欢节目唱歌。` (I like to program-sing.)
  • Correct: `我喜欢看唱歌节目。` (I like to watch singing programs.)
  • Correct: `我喜欢表演，我想参加唱歌比赛。` (I like performing, I want to join a singing competition.)
• 节目 (jiémù) vs. 节目单 (jiémùdān):
  • 节目 (jiémù) is the program itself.
  • 节目单 (jiémùdān) is the program list, playbill, or schedule of events. The `单 (dān)` means “list.”
  • Incorrect: `你能给我看一下今天的节目吗？` (This could be misunderstood as “Can you show me today's performance right now?”)
  • Correct: `你能给我看一下今天的节目单吗？` (Can you let me see today's program list?)

• 节目单 (jiémùdān) - The program list or playbill; the written schedule of all the `节目`.
• 表演 (biǎoyǎn) - The verb “to perform,” or the noun for the act of performance itself.
• 晚会 (wǎnhuì) - An evening gala or party, which is composed of many different `节目`.
• 电视剧 (diànshìjù) - A TV drama or TV series. This is a specific type of `电视节目`.
• 综艺 (zōngyì) - Variety show (e.g., game shows, talent shows). This is a popular genre of `节目`.
• 主持人 (zhǔchírén) - The host or presenter of a `节目`.
• 观众 (guānzhòng) - The audience that watches a `节目`.
• 频道 (píndào) - A (TV) channel, which broadcasts many different `节目`.
• 广播 (guǎngbō) - Radio broadcast; another medium for `节目`.
• 电影 (diànyǐng) - Movie. While a movie is a form of entertainment, it's typically just called a `电影`, not a `节目`. `节目` usually implies something episodic, live, or part of a larger broadcast/event.