leading actor; backbone; pillar
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
leading actor or actress in a theatrical troupe; figuratively, the backbone or mainstay of a group
Originally referred to the star performer in traditional Chinese opera who literally 'held up the stage' (could draw audiences). Now widely used metaphorically to describe indispensable, key members who bear the main responsibility in any organization, company, or team.
Tā他
shì是
zhè这
ge个
Jīng京
jù剧
tuán团
de的
tái台
zhù柱
zi子
，
měi每
chǎng场
yǎn演
chū出
dōu都
shǎo少
bu不
liǎo了
tā他
。
He is the leading actor of this Peking Opera troupe; every performance relies on him.
Zhāng张
gōng工
chéng程
shī师
shì是
zán咱
men们
gōng公
sī司
de的
tái台
zhù柱
zi子
，
hěn很
duō多
hé核
xīn心
jì技
shù术
dōu都
shì是
tā他
zhǎng掌
wò握
de的
。
Engineer Zhang is the backbone of our company; he holds the key technical knowledge.
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Zhè这
zhī支
qiú球
duì队
méi没
le了
nà那
wèi位
míng明
xīng星
qiú球
yuán员
jiù就
xiàng像
méi没
le了
tái台
zhù柱
zi子
，
zhàn战
dòu斗
lì力
xià下
jiàng降
le了
hěn很
duō多
。
Without that star player, the team lost its mainstay and its combat effectiveness dropped significantly.
Lǎo老
jiào教
shòu授
tuì退
xiū休
hòu后
，
zhè这
ge个
jiào教
yán研
shì室
yī一
zhí直
zhǎo找
bu不
dào到
néng能
dāng当
tái台
zhù柱
zi子
de的
jiē接
bān班
rén人
。
Since the old professor retired, the teaching and research office has been unable to find a successor who can serve as the backbone.