improvise comic lines; ad-lib jokes
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
(in crosstalk or traditional opera) to improvise comic lines on the spot to amuse the audience
Specific to traditional Chinese performing arts such as xiangsheng (相声) and opera; requires quick wit and rich cultural knowledge.
Xiàng相
sheng声
yǎn演
yuán员
jīng经
cháng常
zhuā抓
gén哏
lái来
huó活
yuè跃
xiàn现
chǎng场
qì气
fēn氛
。
Crosstalk performers often improvise jokes to liven up the atmosphere.
Tā他
zài在
biǎo表
yǎn演
shí时
tū突
rán然
zhuā抓
le了
yī一
gè个
gén哏
，
bǎ把
guān观
zhòng众
dōu都
dòu逗
xiào笑
le了
。
He suddenly ad-libbed a joke during the performance and made the whole audience laugh.
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Zhuā抓
gén哏
xū需
yào要
yǎn演
yuán员
yǒu有
mǐn敏
jié捷
de的
sī思
wéi维
hé和
fēng丰
fù富
de的
zhī知
shi识
chǔ储
bèi备
。
Ad-libbing requires performers to have quick thinking and a rich reserve of knowledge.
Zhè这
gè个
chǒu丑
jué角
zuì最
shàn擅
cháng长
zhuā抓
gén哏
，
měi每
cì次
dōu都
néng能
jí即
xìng兴
biān编
chū出
hǎo好
xiào笑
de的
tái台
cí词
。
This clown is best at improvising jokes, coming up with funny lines on the spot every time.