相声

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xiàngsheng: 相声 - Crosstalk, Comic Dialogue, Chinese Comedy

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: xiangsheng, xiang sheng, 相声, what is xiangsheng, Chinese crosstalk, traditional Chinese comedy, Chinese stand-up, comic dialogue, Guo Degang, Deyun She, 德云社, Chinese performing arts
  • Summary: Discover 相声 (xiàngsheng), a beloved traditional Chinese comedic art form often called “crosstalk.” Similar to a Western comedy double act or stand-up, xiangsheng involves witty banter, clever puns, storytelling, and mimicry, usually performed by two artists. This entry explores the cultural significance of xiangsheng, from its teahouse origins to its modern revival by stars like Guo Degang, making it an essential term for understanding Chinese humor and entertainment.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): xiàngsheng
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: N/A (Advanced/Cultural Term)
  • Concise Definition: A traditional Chinese comedic performance art, typically involving a dialogue between two performers.
  • In a Nutshell: Imagine a blend of a witty radio play, a vaudeville act, and stand-up comedy, all rolled into one live performance. That's 相声 (xiàngsheng). The heart of xiangsheng is clever language. Performers engage in rapid-fire dialogue, telling stories, making puns, and imitating various people and sounds. It's a masterclass in linguistic skill and timing, with one performer playing the serious “straight man” and the other playing the “funny man” who delivers the punchlines.

Character Breakdown

  • 相 (xiàng): This character can mean “mutual,” “reciprocal,” or “each other.” It also carries the meaning of observing something's appearance or form. In xiangsheng, it points to the interactive, dialogue-based nature of the performance and the artists' keen observation of life.
  • 声 (shēng): This character simply means “sound” or “voice.”
  • Combined Meaning: Together, 相声 (xiàngsheng) literally translates to “mutual sounds” or “imitated voices.” This perfectly captures the essence of the art form: a back-and-forth vocal performance that relies heavily on imitating the sounds of people, accents, and even objects to create humor.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • A Folk Art Form: Xiangsheng is a cornerstone of Chinese 曲艺 (qǔyì), a general term for folk performance arts. It originated in the streets and teahouses of Northern China (especially Beijing and Tianjin) during the Qing Dynasty. It was entertainment for the common people, reflecting their daily lives, frustrations, and joys with sharp wit and satire.
  • Comparison to Western Comedy: The closest Western equivalent is a “comedy double act” like Abbott and Costello, where a straight man (捧哏, pěnggén) sets up the jokes for the funny man (逗哏, dòugén). While often compared to stand-up comedy, xiangsheng is distinct. Traditional xiangsheng is more structured, often based on classic scripts passed down through generations, and places a much heavier emphasis on the four core skills: 说 (shuō) - speaking, 学 (xué) - imitating, 逗 (dòu) - teasing/joking, and 唱 (chàng) - singing. Western stand-up is typically solo, more personal, and more improvisational.
  • Cultural Values: Xiangsheng celebrates a deep cultural appreciation for linguistic mastery. The ability to play with words, tones, and allusions to classic literature and history is highly respected. It acts as a form of living history, preserving dialects, stories, and social commentary from different eras.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • A Modern Renaissance: Once considered a fading art, xiangsheng has experienced a massive resurgence in the 21st century, largely thanks to the performer 郭德纲 (Guō Dégāng) and his troupe 德云社 (Déyún Shè). They made xiangsheng cool again, attracting millions of young fans.
  • Where to Find It: Today, you can “listen to xiangsheng” (听相声, tīng xiàngsheng) in modern teahouses, large theaters, on TV (especially during the Spring Festival Gala), and through countless online videos and podcasts.
  • In Conversation: People might refer to two friends bickering good-naturedly as performing xiangsheng. For example, if two colleagues are in a witty, rapid-fire argument, a third might joke, “你俩说相声呢？” (Nǐ liǎ shuō xiàngsheng ne? - “Are you two performing crosstalk?”). The connotation is generally lighthearted and humorous.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我爷爷特别喜欢听相声。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye tèbié xǐhuān tīng xiàngsheng.
    • English: My grandpa really loves listening to crosstalk.
    • Analysis: This is the most common way to talk about enjoying this art form. Note the use of 听 (tīng), “to listen,” which is more common than 看 (kàn), “to watch,” as the audio component is considered primary.
  • Example 2:
    • 这段相声的包袱特别响！
    • Pinyin: Zhè duàn xiàngsheng de bāofu tèbié xiǎng!
    • English: The punchline in this crosstalk routine was excellent!
    • Analysis: 包袱 (bāofu), literally “bundle,” is the technical term for a punchline or comedic twist in xiangsheng. 响 (xiǎng), literally “loud” or “resounding,” is slang for a punchline that lands perfectly and gets a big laugh.
  • Example 3:
    • 郭德纲是中国最著名的相声演员之一。
    • Pinyin: Guō Dégāng shì Zhōngguó zuì zhùmíng de xiàngsheng yǎnyuán zhīyī.
    • English: Guo Degang is one of China's most famous crosstalk actors.
    • Analysis: This sentence shows how to refer to a xiangsheng performer: 相声演员 (xiàngsheng yǎnyuán).
  • Example 4:
    • 他们俩一唱一和，跟说相声似的。
    • Pinyin: Tāmen liǎ yí chàng yí hè, gēn shuō xiàngsheng sìde.
    • English: The two of them go back and forth, just like they're performing crosstalk.
    • Analysis: This is a great example of using “xiangsheng” metaphorically to describe a witty or well-coordinated conversation between two people. 一唱一和 (yí chàng yí hè) means one leads and the other follows, a perfect description of the xiangsheng dynamic.
  • Example 5:
    • 春晚的相声小品是每年必看的节目。
    • Pinyin: Chūnwǎn de xiàngsheng xiǎopǐn shì měinián bì kàn de jiémù.
    • English: The crosstalk and comedy skits on the Spring Festival Gala are must-see programs every year.
    • Analysis: This sentence places xiangsheng in the context of China's biggest TV event, the 春晚 (Chūnwǎn), and alongside another popular comedy form, 小品 (xiǎopǐn) (sketches).
  • Example 6:
    • 传统的相声分为单口、对口和群口三种。
    • Pinyin: Chuántǒng de xiàngsheng fēnwéi dānkǒu, duìkǒu hé qúnkǒu sān zhǒng.
    • English: Traditional crosstalk is divided into three types: solo (dankou), duo (duikou), and group (qunkou).
    • Analysis: This gives more specific vocabulary about the art form. 对口 (duìkǒu), or duo crosstalk, is the most common form.
  • Example 7:
    • 学相声需要掌握“说、学、逗、唱”四门基本功。
    • Pinyin: Xué xiàngsheng xūyào zhǎngwò “shuō, xué, dòu, chàng” sì mén jīběngōng.
    • English: To learn crosstalk, you need to master the four basic skills: “speaking, imitating, teasing, and singing.”
    • Analysis: This sentence introduces the famous “four skills” (说学逗唱), which are the foundation of a performer's training.
  • Example 8:
    • 别贫了，你俩快赶上德云社说相声的了。
    • Pinyin: Bié pín le, nǐ liǎ kuài gǎnshàng Déyún Shè shuō xiàngsheng de le.
    • English: Stop joking around, you two are almost as good as the crosstalk performers from Deyun She.
    • Analysis: A colloquial and teasing way to comment on friends who are being particularly witty or talkative. 贫 (pín) means “glib” or “garrulous” in a playful way. Mentioning 德云社 (Déyún Shè) adds a modern, specific cultural reference.
  • Example 9:
    • 他把生活中的一件小事，编成了一段有趣的相声。
    • Pinyin: Tā bǎ shēnghuó zhōng de yí jiàn xiǎoshì, biān chéngle yí duàn yǒuqù de xiàngsheng.
    • English: He turned a small incident from his life into an interesting crosstalk routine.
    • Analysis: This shows the creative process behind xiangsheng. The verb 编 (biān) means to write, compile, or fabricate, which is used for creating scripts.
  • Example 10:
    • 这家茶馆周末有相声表演。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cháguǎn zhōumò yǒu xiàngsheng biǎoyǎn.
    • English: This teahouse has crosstalk performances on the weekend.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights the traditional venue for xiangsheng: the 茶馆 (cháguǎn), or teahouse.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • “Xiangsheng” is NOT “Stand-up Comedy”: This is the most critical distinction. While both are forms of comedy, they are not the same. The Chinese word for Western-style stand-up is 脱口秀 (tuōkǒuxiù), which literally means “talk show.”
    • 相声 (xiàngsheng): Usually a duo, follows a more structured narrative, relies on traditional linguistic techniques and wordplay, often references classic stories.
    • 脱口秀 (tuōkǒuxiù): Usually solo, based on personal anecdotes and observations, more free-form, and often more directly satirical or “edgy.”
    • Incorrect: “Yesterday I watched a great xiangsheng, it was one guy talking about his life.” (This describes 脱口秀, not xiangsheng).
  • “Listening” vs. “Watching”: While you can “watch” (看, kàn) xiangsheng, especially on video, the traditional and more common verb is “to listen” (听, tīng). This emphasizes that the artistry is in the words, tones, and vocal delivery, not necessarily in physical action.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 脱口秀 (tuōkǒuxiù) - Stand-up comedy. The modern, Western-influenced counterpart to xiangsheng.
  • 小品 (xiǎopǐn) - Comedic sketch or skit. More theatrical than xiangsheng, with props, costumes, and a clear plot. Very popular on TV galas.
  • 捧哏 (pěnggén) - The “straight man” in a xiangsheng duo. Their job is to support, question, and set up the main comedian.
  • 逗哏 (dòugén) - The “funny man” in a xiangsheng duo. They are the primary joke-teller and storyteller.
  • 郭德纲 (Guō Dégāng) - The superstar performer credited with revitalizing xiangsheng for a modern audience.
  • 德云社 (Déyún Shè) - “Deyun Society,” the famous xiangsheng troupe founded by Guo Degang, now a cultural phenomenon.
  • 曲艺 (qǔyì) - The broad category of Chinese folk narrative arts, which includes xiangsheng, pingshu (storytelling), and more.
  • 包袱 (bāofu) - The “punchline” or key comedic moment in a routine. The core of a xiangsheng performance is building up to and successfully delivering the *bāofu*.
  • 说学逗唱 (shuō, xué, dòu, chàng) - The four fundamental skills of a xiangsheng performer: Speaking, Imitating, Teasing, and Singing. This is the bedrock of their training.