戏剧

The Chinese word 戏剧 (xìjù) for "drama" or "theater" is composed of two characters: 戏 (xì) and 剧 (jù). The character 戏 originally meant "to imitate" or "to perform", and was often used in the context of religious ceremonies or rituals. Over time, it came to be used more broadly to refer to any kind of performance, including plays, operas, and acrobatics. The character 剧 originally meant "a big event" or "a spectacle", and was often used to describe natural disasters or wars. However, it also came to be used in the context of performance, and eventually became synonymous with 戏. Today, the word 戏剧 is used to refer to any kind of dramatic performance, including plays, operas, musicals, and dance performances.