play the role of; act as; portray
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
3 senses · 7 examplesverb
to play a role; to act the part of
The core meaning, used in performing arts contexts.
Tā她
zài在
diàn电
yǐng影
lǐ里
bān扮
yǎn演
yī一
wèi位
jiān坚
qiáng强
de的
mǔ母
qīn亲
。
She plays the role of a strong mother in the movie.
Tā他
yī一
shēng生
zhōng中
bān扮
yǎn演
guò过
xǔ许
duō多
bù不
tóng同
de的
jué角
sè色
。
He has played many different roles in his life.
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Zhè这
ge个
huà话
jù剧
xū需
yào要
yī一
gè个
hái孩
zi子
lái来
bān扮
yǎn演
zhǔ主
jué角
。
This play needs a child to play the lead role.
verb
to impersonate; to masquerade as; to act as
Used in broader contexts, including social roles and deception.
Zài在
tuán团
duì队
lǐ里
，
tā他
cháng常
cháng常
bān扮
yǎn演
tiáo调
jiě解
zhě者
de的
jué角
sè色
。
In the team, he often acts as a mediator.
Tā他
jiǎ假
bàn扮
jǐng警
chá察
，
jié结
guǒ果
bèi被
dài逮
bǔ捕
le了
。
He impersonated a police officer and was arrested.
verb
to reenact; to perform again
Based on the dictionary's example. Focuses on recreating past or distant events.
Xué学
sheng生
men们
zài在
lì历
shǐ史
kè课
shàng上
bān扮
yǎn演
gǔ古
dài代
zhàn战
zhēng争
de的
gù故
shi事
。
The students reenacted stories of ancient wars in history class.
Zhè这
bù部
jì纪
lù录
piàn片
tōng通
guò过
yǎn演
yuán员
bān扮
yǎn演
lái来
huán还
yuán原
lì历
shǐ史
shì事
jiàn件
。
This documentary restores historical events through actors' reenactments.