青衣 (qīngyī): qingyi (virtuous young/middle-a…

Meanings

1 qingyi (virtuous young/middle-aged female role in Chinese opera)
2 servant (archaic, from black clothes)
3 black clothing

Characters

青

Examples

她是剧团里最出色的青衣。

Tā shì jùtuán lǐ zuì chūsè de qīngyī.

She is the finest qingyi in the troupe.

青衣重唱功,花旦重做工。

Qīngyī zhòng chànggōng, huādàn zhòng zuògōng.

Qingyi emphasize singing; huadan emphasize acting and movement.

Tips

culture

Named after the dark blue-black 青 gown traditionally worn by this role. Qingyi are the serious, virtuous women — faithful wives, loyal widows, daughters of good family. Also called 正旦. Mei Lanfang (梅兰芳) rose to fame partly through redefining the qingyi.

In Pop Culture

青衣 Qīngyī

Qingyi (novel / TV series)

Bi Feiyu's 2000 novella 《青衣》, adapted into a 2003 TV drama starring Xu Fan, about a Peking opera qingyi performer's tragic obsession with the role. Major work of modern Chinese literature.