From death matches to child's play

古代漢語中，"戲"字多用來表示角斗。到了后來，由于一些格斗比賽不是真的廝殺而是一種表演，"戲"字才有了演戲的意思。

You probably recognize the character (x) as a word of whimsy, but its origins are not so innocuous. It first appeared over 3,000 years ago inscribed on bronze ware. In its original form, the left side of the character was a phonetic guide and the right side of the character (g, a spear or sword) hinted at its meaning.

Why would a word now known as "play" or "theater" have a weapon in it? Because in ancient days, referred to wrestling or fist fighting matches to the death. When leisure and entertainment became more civilized, these competitions were enacted instead, so the character came to mean "performance". In some matches, wrestlers looked like they were playing around, so took on even broader, tamer meaning as "game" and, eventually, "joking".

These days, is everywhere in the performing arts: theater house ( xyun), stage ( xti), Peking Opera ( jngx, also known as jngj), Huangmei Opera ( hungmix, "Yellow Plum Opera", a genre popular in Anhui), a buff ( xm), or an actor ( xzi, a derogatory term from the days when people looked down on thespians).

can transcend its literal meaning and do some idiomatic heavy lifting. Originally, (fng chng zu x) referred to spontaneous performances that itinerant entertainers staged wherever they found a suitable place. Now, the idiom just means "to play along" (a kind of "acting" that we all do). In another idiomatic turn, can pit rivals against one another. Long ago, (chng dutix) described rival troupes doing similar shows concurrently to steal each other's business. Now, any action in opposition to another can be a form of . In daily life, you might occasionally find something particularly dramatic or unexpected; then it has a lot of "theatrical characteristics" ( xjxng).

Even more fun are 's incarnations as "play". (xx) is to frolic, (xshu) is to tease and (rx) - which literally means "children's games" - can be a metaphor for something trivial. If your boss regarded your professional ambitions thus (sh tng rx) - then you're in trouble. You would need to convince him that what you're pursuing is (fi tng rx), or a serious matter that isn't to be treated lightly.

Back to "joking". (xnng) is to make fun of, (xxu) is to banter or ridicule, (xchng) is a comical nickname, (xyn) are humorous remarks and (xshu) is an amusing narrative (as in the popular renditions of The Three Kingdoms and of Emperor Qianlong). The TV shows or stories about ancient history might be amusing, but what is never meant to be funny is current military affairs. A common saying goes (jn zhng w xyn) - there's no joking around in the military.

The best uses of are in colloquialisms. The character can be a measure of success. If someone says, (zh shr yux), they mean "This thing has hope; it could work out". By contrast, if someone says (xix), there's no chance in hell it's going to happen. Nosey people or those with schadenfreude might perversely delight in . The sinister sentence often uttered from the slips of a movie bad characters goes (zhxi k yu hax kn le) - "stick around for the show".

- Translated by Michael Fitzgerald (黃燦城)