juésè: 角色 - Role, Character, Part

• Keywords: juese, 角色, Chinese word for role, Chinese word for character, playing a role in Chinese, role in society Chinese, video game character in Chinese, actor's role in Chinese, Juésè meaning, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 角色 (juésè), meaning “role” or “character.” This guide explores its use in movies, video games (like RPGs), business, and society. Understand the cultural significance of “playing your part” in China and how 角色 (juésè) differs from just being a character in a story to defining your function in your family, at work, and in life.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): juésè
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: A part played by a person or thing in a particular context, such as in a story, a company, or society.
• In a Nutshell: 角色 (juésè) is the word for “role.” Think of it in the broadest sense possible. It's the character an actor plays in a film, the character you control in a video game, and also the role you fulfill at your job or in your family (e.g., the “role of a manager” or the “role of an older sibling”). It's all about the specific part you are playing in a given situation.

• 角 (jué): While this character's most common pronunciation is `jiǎo` (meaning “corner” or “horn”), in this specific word, it takes the less common pronunciation `jué` and means “role” or “part,” especially in a performance.
• 色 (sè): This character means “color,” “look,” or “appearance.”

Combining them, 角色 (juésè) literally translates to the “role's appearance” or “role's color.” It beautifully captures the idea of taking on the persona and appearance of a specific part, whether on stage or in life.

In Western cultures, the phrase “playing a role” can sometimes imply being fake or inauthentic. However, in Chinese culture, influenced by Confucian values, properly fulfilling your 角色 (juésè) is often seen as a virtue. This ties into the traditional concept of 五伦 (Wǔlún), the “Five Relationships,” which defines proper conduct between: ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, older and younger brother, and between friends. Each person has a clear 角色 (juésè) with corresponding responsibilities. Fulfilling these roles contributes to social harmony, which is a paramount cultural value. So, while an American might focus on “finding themselves” to be authentic, a traditional Chinese perspective might emphasize “fulfilling your role” as a parent, a student, or an employee to be a good and responsible person. The concept isn't about suppressing your personality, but about understanding and executing your function within a collective for the greater good.

角色 (juésè) is an extremely common and versatile word used in many modern contexts.

• Entertainment: This is the most direct usage. It refers to characters in films, TV shows, plays, and books.
  • `你最喜欢哪个电影角色？` (Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎge diànyǐng juésè?) - Which movie character is your favorite?
• Gaming: It's the standard term for a character in a video game. The genre “RPG” is 角色扮演游戏 (juésè bànyǎn yóuxì).
  • `我想创建一个新角色。` (Wǒ xiǎng chuàngjiàn yī gè xīn juésè.) - I want to create a new character.
• Social & Professional Life: The word is used metaphorically to describe a person's function or position in a group, company, or society.
  • `她在团队中扮演着重要的角色。` (Tā zài tuánduì zhōng bànyǎn zhe zhòngyào de juésè.) - She plays an important role on the team.

The connotation is generally neutral and depends entirely on the context.

• Example 1:
  • 这位演员能演好任何角色。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi yǎnyuán néng yǎnhǎo rènhé juésè.
  • English: This actor can play any role well.
  • Analysis: A straightforward use of 角色 in the context of acting and performance.
• Example 2:
  • 在《英雄联盟》里，我最喜欢的角色是艾希。
  • Pinyin: Zài “Yīngxióng Liánméng” lǐ, wǒ zuì xǐhuān de juésè shì Àixī.
  • English: In “League of Legends,” my favorite character is Ashe.
  • Analysis: This shows the standard use of 角色 for a character in a video game.
• Example 3:
  • 作为经理，他的角色是领导整个团队。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi jīnglǐ, tā de juésè shì lǐngdǎo zhěnggè tuánduì.
  • English: As a manager, his role is to lead the entire team.
  • Analysis: Here, 角色 is used to mean a professional function or position.
• Example 4:
  • 教育在社会发展中扮演着关键角色。
  • Pinyin: Jiàoyù zài shèhuì fāzhǎn zhōng bànyǎn zhe guānjiàn juésè.
  • English: Education plays a key role in social development.
  • Analysis: A more abstract and formal usage, where an inanimate concept (education) has a 角色.
• Example 5:
  • 这个故事里的反派角色写得非常复杂。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge gùshì lǐ de fǎnpài juésè xiě de fēicháng fùzá.
  • English: The villain character in this story is written very complexly.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to specify the *type* of role, in this case, a villain (`反派 fǎnpài`).
• Example 6:
  • 每个家庭成员都有自己独特的角色和责任。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge jiātíng chéngyuán dōu yǒu zìjǐ dútè de juésè hé zérèn.
  • English: Every family member has their own unique role and responsibilities.
  • Analysis: This connects 角色 to the concept of family duties, reflecting the cultural context.
• Example 7:
  • 他只是一个配角，不是主角。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì yī gè pèijué, bùshì zhǔjué.
  • English: He's just a supporting role, not the main character.
  • Analysis: This example uses two related words: `配角 (pèijué)` - supporting role, and `主角 (zhǔjué)` - main character/protagonist. Note how both share the character `角 (jué)`. We have bolded them here for clarity, although `角色` is the page's focus.
• Example 8:
  • 为了演好这个角色，她体验了三个月乡村生活。
  • Pinyin: Wèile yǎnhǎo zhège juésè, tā tǐyàn le sān ge yuè xiāngcūn shēnghuó.
  • English: In order to play this character well, she experienced rural life for three months.
  • Analysis: Shows the dedication associated with “getting into character.”
• Example 9:
  • 随着科技进步，机器人的角色变得越来越重要。
  • Pinyin: Suízhe kējì jìnbù, jīqìrén de juésè biànde yuèláiyuè zhòngyào.
  • English: As technology advances, the role of robots is becoming more and more important.
  • Analysis: Another example of an inanimate object having a metaphorical 角色 in society.
• Example 10:
  • 在这次谈判中，你将扮演一个中立的角色。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè cì tánpàn zhōng, nǐ jiāng bànyǎn yī gè zhōnglì de juésè.
  • English: In this negotiation, you will play a neutral role.
  • Analysis: Highlights the combination with the verb `扮演 (bànyǎn)`, which means “to play the part of” or “to act as.”

• Pronunciation: `juésè` vs. `jiǎosè`

The official, dictionary-standard pronunciation is juésè. However, in everyday conversation, you will very frequently hear it pronounced as jiǎosè, especially in Taiwan and Southern China. Both are understood, but for formal settings or exams (like the HSK), you should stick to juésè. This is because the character `角` is pronounced `jué` for “role” and `jiǎo` for almost all its other meanings (“corner,” “horn,” “angle”).

• `角色 (juésè)` vs. `人物 (rénwù)`

This is a key distinction.

• 角色 (juésè) is about the *function* or *part* being played.
• 人物 (rénwù) is about the *person* or *figure* itself, often a notable one.
• Example: Winston Churchill was a famous historical 人物 (rénwù). The actor who portrays him in a movie is playing the 角色 (juésè) of Churchill.
• “Character” vs. “Personality”

A common mistake for English speakers is using 角色 (juésè) to mean “personality” or “moral character.” This is incorrect.

• Incorrect: `他有一个好角色。` (Tā yǒu yī gè hǎo juésè.)
• Correct: To say “He has a good personality,” you should use 性格 (xìnggé): `他性格很好。` (Tā xìnggé hěn hǎo.)
• Correct: To say “He has high moral character,” you should use `人品 (rénpǐn)`: `他人品很好。` (Tā rénpǐn hěn hǎo.)

• 扮演 (bànyǎn) - (Verb) To play the part of, to act as. This is the verb often used with 角色.
• 主角 (zhǔjué) - Main character, protagonist.
• 配角 (pèijué) - Supporting character/role.
• 人物 (rénwù) - A person, a figure, a character (in the sense of a personage in a story, not the role itself).
• 身份 (shēnfèn) - Identity, status. This is related to the “role” one has in society but focuses more on status and official identification.
• 演员 (yǎnyuán) - Actor, actress. The person whose job is to play a 角色.
• 职责 (zhízé) - Duty, responsibility. The specific tasks associated with a professional 角色.
• 性格 (xìnggé) - Personality, nature. Describes the traits of a person or character, but is not the role itself.