以曲娱人的优伶
“who pleased others with songs”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
以曲娱人 的优伶
“who pleased others with songs”
到如今
“to”
“I started from the very bottom of society where I was merely an object of amusement.”
In pre-modern China, theatrical entertainers belonged to the 'mean' or degraded social caste (jianji), facing institutional and social discrimination.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
pleasing others with musical tunes
A literary four-character expression denoting performance for the entertainment of superiors.
actor / theatrical performer (archaic)
Historical term designating theatrical performers, traditionally associated with low social standing.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“Maybe he's a customer who came to listen to the music.”
“and she's also the pillar of our song and dance troupe.”
“what's so great about this tune?”
“Please choose a play for everyone's entertainment.”
“(bear little resemblance to You Chen'an's.)”
“He was the subordinate of You Chen'an!”