导演 (dǎoyǎn) · director (film, TV, theater)

Measure Word

一位导演 wèi

Meanings

1 director (film, TV, theater)
2 to direct (a film, play, etc.)

Characters

导

dǎo

to guide; to lead; to direct

演

yǎn

to perform; to act; to develop

导 (direct/guide) + 演 (perform) = the one who directs the performance.

Examples

HSK 4

这部电影的导演是谁？

Zhè bù diànyǐng de dǎoyǎn shì shéi?

Who is the director of this movie?

HSK 4

他想当导演。

Tā xiǎng dāng dǎoyǎn.

He wants to become a director.

HSK 5

这部戏是她导演的。

Zhè bù xì shì tā dǎoyǎn de.

This play was directed by her.

Tips

usage

导演 is both a noun (the director) and a verb (to direct). Famous Chinese directors: 张艺谋 and 李安 (Ang Lee).

In Pop Culture

张艺谋 Zhāng Yìmóu

Zhang Yimou

Director of the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers.

Stroke Order

导 dǎo

演 yǎn

Related Words

指导 zhǐdǎo HSK 5 #3,038

to guide; to direct; to coach / guidance; instruction

导致 dǎozhì HSK 5 #1,759

to lead to / to cause / to result in

演讲 yǎnjiǎng HSK 5 #2,707

to give a speech; to lecture / speech; lecture; presentation

领导 lǐngdǎo HSK 5 #2,509

leader / leadership / to lead

编导 biāndǎo #26,669

writer-director / playwright-director / scenarist-director / to write and direct

执导 zhídǎo #25,961

to direct (a film, play, etc.) / to be the director of

演戏 yǎnxì #4,276

to act (in a play or film) / to put on an act / to pretend

扮演 bànyǎn HSK 6 #2,398

to play the role of; to act as / to play a part (figuratively)

导 dǎo #7,637

to guide; to lead / to direct; to conduct

上演 shàngyǎn HSK 7-9 #4,711

to stage (a play); to put on a show / to screen (a movie); to perform; to unfold (of events)