劇 meaning and stroke order
Theatrical plays, opera, drama; severe, acute
How to write 劇, stroke by stroke
15 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
Meaning of 劇
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- theatrical work (play, opera, TV series etc)
- dramatic (change, increase etc)
- acute
- severe
How 劇 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Knife.
刂 gives the meaning and 豦 hints at the sound.
Radical: 刂 (knife), shared by 71 characters on this site.
How to remember 劇
劇 is built from 豦 (jù), which gives the sound, and 刂, the knife radical. Picture a stage fight with knives: a drama where things turn sharp and severe.
劇 (jù) appears mostly in words about plays and shows, like 電視劇 (diànshìjù) TV series and 京劇 (jīngjù) Beijing opera. It can also mean sharp or dramatic in a change, as in 劇烈 or 劇增. Example: 我晚上喜歡看電視劇。(Wǒ wǎnshang xǐhuan kàn diànshìjù.) I like watching TV dramas in the evening.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 劇 with 據 (jù, according to) and 據's relatives, since they share the 豦 part and the same sound. Check the side: 劇 has the knife 刂 on the right, while 據 has the hand 扌 on the left.
Common words with 劇
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 劇場 | jùchǎng | theater | HSK 3 |
| 電視劇 | diànshìjù | TV series; TV drama | HSK 3 |
| 連續劇 | liánxùjù | TV series | HSK 3 |
| 話劇 | huàjù | stage play; modern drama | HSK 3 |
| 京劇 | jīngjù | Beijing opera | HSK 3 |
| 劇本 | jùběn | script; screenplay; scenario; libretto | HSK 5 |
| 悲劇 | bēijù | tragedy | HSK 5 |
| 戲劇 | xìjù | a drama; a play; theater; script of a play | HSK 5 |
| 喜劇 | xǐjù | a comedy | HSK 5 |
| 劇院 | jùyuàn | theater | HSK 7-9 |
| 歌劇 | gējù | Western opera | HSK 7-9 |
| 編劇 | biānjù | to write a play; scenario | HSK 7-9 |
| 劇情 | jùqíng | story line; plot | HSK 7-9 |
| 劇烈 | jùliè | violent; acute; severe; fierce | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 劇
How many strokes are in 劇?
劇 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 劇 mean?
劇 (jù) means theatrical plays, opera, drama; severe, acute. A common word with it is 剧场 (jùchǎng), meaning "theater".
How do you pronounce 劇?
劇 is pronounced jù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 劇?
The radical of 劇 is 刂, which carries the idea of "knife". Dictionaries list 劇 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 劇?
劇 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 剧, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 戲劇 and 話劇?
戲劇 (xìjù) is the general word for drama or theater of any kind. 話劇 (huàjù) is specifically a spoken stage play, as opposed to sung forms like 京劇 (jīngjù).
How do you use 劇 to mean severe?
In this sense 劇 combines with other characters to describe intensity, such as 劇痛 (jùtòng) severe pain or 劇烈 (jùliè) violent, intense. It is not normally used alone as an adjective in everyday speech.