supporting role; foil; minor part
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
supporting role; supporting actor; foil; minor character
informalUsed in informal or spoken contexts, often in performing arts. The suffix -r (儿) adds a colloquial tone. Can refer to people or things that play a secondary, supporting function.
Wǒ我
chàng唱
bù不
liǎo了
zhǔ主
jué角
，
gěi给
nǐ你
dāng当
gè个
pèi配
dā搭
r儿
hái还
xíng行
。
I can't play the lead role, but I can be a supporting actor for you.
Tā他
zài在
zhè这
chū出
xì戏
lǐ里
zhǐ只
shì是
gè个
pèi配
dā搭
r儿
，
méi没
shén什
me么
tái台
cí词
。
He is just a supporting actor in this play with very few lines.
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Zhè这
jiā家
diàn店
shì是
páng旁
biān边
dà大
shāng商
chǎng场
de的
pèi配
dā搭
r儿
，
mài卖
xiē些
xiǎo小
shì饰
pǐn品
。
This shop is an accompaniment to the big mall next door, selling small accessories.
Dāng当
pèi配
dā搭
r儿
yě也
yào要
yǒu有
zhuān专
yè业
jīng精
shén神
，
bù不
néng能
mǎ马
hu虎
。
Even when playing a supporting role, you need professionalism; you can't be sloppy.