black garment; servant girl; female opera role
Meanings
3 senses · 6 examplesnoun
black or plain-colored clothing
literaryHistorically refers to simple, dark-colored garments, often worn by commoners or scholars. The '青' can signify a dark color including black, blue, or green.
He wore a black robe and a small hat, dressed like a scholar.
Servants in ancient times mostly wore dark-colored clothing.
noun
servant girl; maidservant (historical)
archaicA historical term. Because servant girls often wore dark, plain clothing, the term became a metonymy for them.
In the novel, the young lady is always accompanied by a clever maidservant.
noun
a main female role in Chinese opera, typically playing virtuous, dignified women
formalA major role type in traditional Chinese opera (like Peking opera), known for singing elaborate arias and portraying chaste, gentle, and often tragic female characters. The name originates from the plain dark-blue/black dress (青衫) traditionally worn.
She plays the 'Qingyi' role in 'The Legend of the White Snake', and her singing is beautifully poignant.
The performance art of the Cheng school's 'Qingyi' is extremely exquisite.
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This actress is one of the most famous 'Qingyi' performers today.