play a minor role; do trivial work
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to play a walk-on role; to be an extra
neutralLiterally refers to playing a soldier or attendant (who wears a '龙套' costume) in traditional Chinese opera, with no lines or significant action.
Tā他
gāng刚
kāi开
shǐ始
xué学
xì戏
，
zhǐ只
néng能
pǎo跑
pao跑
lóng龙
tào套
。
He just started learning opera, so he can only play walk-on roles.
Zài在
zhè这
bù部
jīng京
jù剧
lǐ里
，
tā他
pǎo跑
lóng龙
tào套
yǎn演
le了
yī一
gè个
shì士
bīng兵
。
In this Peking opera, he played an extra soldier.
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Xǔ许
duō多
zhù著
míng名
yǎn演
yuán员
dōu都
céng曾
yǒu有
guò过
pǎo跑
lóng龙
tào套
de的
jīng经
lì历
。
Many famous actors have had the experience of being extras.
verb
to do trivial work; to play a minor, unimportant part
informalA common metaphorical extension, often used in workplaces or projects to describe someone with little responsibility or influence.
Tā他
zài在
zhè这
gè个
xiàng项
mù目
lǐ里
zhǐ只
shì是
pǎo跑
lóng龙
tào套
，
jué决
dìng定
quán权
zài在
jīng经
lǐ理
shǒu手
lǐ里
。
He just plays a minor role in this project; the decision-making power lies with the manager.
Wǒ我
bù不
xiǎng想
yī一
zhí直
zài在
zhè这
lǐ里
pǎo跑
lóng龙
tào套
，
wǒ我
xiǎng想
zuò做
xiē些
zhēn真
zhèng正
yǒu有
yì意
yì义
de的
gōng工
zuò作
。
I don't want to keep doing trivial work here; I want to do some truly meaningful work.
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Tā她
bù不
gān甘
xīn心
zhǐ只
dāng当
gè个
pǎo跑
lóng龙
tào套
de的
xiǎo小
zhí职
yuán员
。
She is not content with just being a minor clerk who does trivial tasks.