noun HSK 5
Traditional 悲劇
tragedy · tragic drama · tragic event
Meaning
悲剧 literally means 'sad drama' and refers to both theatrical tragedies and real-life tragic events. In literature, it describes dramatic works with unhappy endings where protagonists face downfall or death. In everyday speech, it can describe any unfortunate or disastrous situation.
Usage
Used both in literary contexts to discuss tragic plays or films, and colloquially to describe unfortunate situations. The tone can range from serious (discussing actual disasters) to somewhat hyperbolic (calling a minor mishap a '悲剧'). Often contrasted with 喜剧 (comedy).
Examples
- 01莎士比亚写了很多著名的悲剧作品。.Shakespeare wrote many famous tragic works.
- 02这次事故真是一场悲剧，我们要吸取教训。, .This accident was truly a tragedy; we must learn from it.
Characters
Measure words
- 场一场悲剧
- 部一部悲剧
Common collocations
- 悲剧人物tragic figure
- 悲剧结局tragic ending
- 一场悲剧a tragedy
- 避免悲剧to avoid tragedy
Antonyms
Origin
Compound of 悲 (sad) + 剧 (drama). The term emerged as Chinese scholars translated Western dramatic terminology, directly calquing the concept of tragedy from European theatrical tradition.