关子

關子

guānzi

noun #28,619

Meanings

1 the climax (in storytelling)
2 a cliffhanger
3 keeping someone in suspense

Characters

to close; critical point; checkpoint

Examples

说书人卖关子，让听众急切地想知道结局。

Shuōshūrén mài guānzi, ràng tīngzhòng jíqiè de xiǎng zhīdào jiéjú.

The storyteller kept people in suspense, leaving the audience eager to know the ending.

别卖关子了，快告诉我结果！

Bié mài guānzi le, kuài gàosù wǒ jiéguǒ!

Stop keeping me in suspense — just tell me the result!

Tips

usage

关子 is almost always used in the phrase 卖关子 (to sell the climax moment), meaning to deliberately withhold key information to create suspense. The verb 卖 (to sell) implies tantalizing the audience.

Stroke Order

关 guān

子 zǐ