电视剧 (diàn shì jù)

noun HSK 4

Traditional 電視劇

diàn shì jù

TV drama · TV series · television drama

Meaning

电视剧 refers to a television drama or series, encompassing all types of scripted TV shows from soap operas to period dramas. It's a compound word combining 电视 (television) and 剧 (drama/play), and is the standard term Chinese speakers use when discussing TV shows.

Usage

This is the most common and neutral term for TV series in Mandarin. Native speakers use it for all genres of serialized television content. It's used in both casual conversation and formal contexts. Common patterns include asking 'What TV show are you watching?' (你在看什么电视剧?) or discussing popular series.

Examples

01
这部电视剧很受欢迎，已经播了三十集了。
Zhè bù diàn shì jù hěn shòu huān yíng, yǐ jīng bō le sān shí jí le.
This TV series is very popular; thirty episodes have already aired.
02
我最近在看一部关于历史的电视剧。
Wǒ zuì jìn zài kàn yī bù guān yú lì shǐ de diàn shì jù.
I'm currently watching a TV drama about history.

Characters

Measure words

部bù一部电视剧
集jí这部电视剧有40集

Common collocations

看电视剧
kàn diàn shì jù
to watch a TV series
拍电视剧
pāi diàn shì jù
to film/shoot a TV series
热播电视剧
rè bō diàn shì jù
popular/hit TV series
古装电视剧
gǔ zhuāng diàn shì jù
period drama

Origin

Formed from 电视 (television, literally 'electric vision') + 剧 (drama). The term emerged in the mid-20th century as television became widespread in China, adapting the traditional concept of 剧 (theatrical drama) to the new medium.