the trade of performing; traditional entertainment profession
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
the profession of performing traditional opera or storytelling
archaicThis term, literally 'open-mouth-rice,' is an old-fashioned, somewhat self-deprecating way to refer to the livelihood of performers who rely on their voice and speech. It has fallen out of common use.
Jiù旧
shè社
huì会
，
chàng唱
xì戏
de的
rén人
bèi被
rèn认
wéi为
shì是
chī吃
kāi开
kǒu口
fàn饭
de的
。
In old society, opera singers were considered to be in the 'open-mouth-rice' trade.
Lǎo老
yī一
bèi辈
shuō说
xiàng相
sheng声
shì是
chī吃
kāi开
kǒu口
fàn饭
de的
háng行
dang当
，
bù不
róng容
yì易
。
The older generation said that performing crosstalk was a 'open-mouth-rice' profession and not easy.
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Tā他
fù父
qīn亲
shì是
chī吃
kāi开
kǒu口
fàn饭
de的
，
yī一
bèi辈
zi子
dōu都
zài在
wǔ舞
tái台
shàng上
。
His father was in the performing trade and spent his whole life on stage.