play a role outside one's specialty
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to play a role outside one's usual line of business (in traditional opera)
Specifically refers to actors in traditional Chinese opera (such as Peking opera) performing role types that are not their primary specialization or usual line of business (本行当).
Tā她
zài在
《
Tiān天
Hé河
Pèi配
》
lǐ里
chuàn串
yǎn演
guo过
Zhī织
nǚ女
。
She played the Weaver Girl in 'The Heavenly Match.'
Zhè这
wèi位
míng名
jué角
ǒu偶
ěr尔
huì会
chuàn串
yǎn演
chǒu丑
jué角
。
This famous performer occasionally plays the clown role outside their specialty.
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Tā他
zài在
zhè这
chū出
xì戏
lǐ里
chuàn串
yǎn演
lǎo老
shēng生
。
He played the role of an elderly male character, which is not his usual specialty, in this play.