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Character Types of Chinese Traditional Operas
中国传统戏曲历史悠久，源远流长，它是中华民族文化艺术品种之一。这些古老的剧种，至今活跃在中国的舞台上。京剧是传统戏曲里影响最大的戏曲剧种，它形成于二百年前的北京，流行于全国，它有丰富的传统剧目五千余个，内容多以表现中国古代故事为主。经过二百年来的发展，京剧已形成了一套完整的艺术体系，产生了多种流派和表演艺术大师，各个流派各具特色，他们的表演艺术深受观众的喜爱。Chinese traditional operas, of a long history and well established, are one of the cultural and artistic forms of the Chinese nation. These ancient types of drama are still active on China's stages today. Of all the traditional types of drama, Peking Opera is the most influential. Emerging in Peking some two hundred years ago and popular throughout the country, Peking opera has a rich array of more than five thousand traditional items, mostly depicting ancient stories in China. After more than two hundred years of development, Peking Opera now boasts of many schools and masters of performing art. Each school has its own outstanding features and their performing skills are deeply loved by the audience.
京剧中的表演角色大体分为生、旦、净、丑四个行当，以唱、念、做、打为主要艺术表现手段。“生”是男性正面角色，“旦”是女性正面角色，“净”是性格鲜明的男性配角，“丑”是幽默滑稽或反面角色。每种角色又有表明身份的脸谱、扮相等，只要演员一上场，你一望便知。
Characters in the opera are roughly divided into four types of role, namely: "Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou." Every type has its telltale facial makeup and decoration. "Sheng" is the positive male role, "Dan" is the positive female role, "Jing" is a supporting male role with striking character and "Chou" is the clown. Every type has its telltale facial makeup and decoration.
“生”是男性正面角色
"Sheng" is the positive male role
老生：扮演中老年男子或性格持重的青年男子角色，在装扮上都戴有胡须，也叫“须生”。
Lao Sheng which is old or middle-aged man or a young man with prudent feature. He
is always with beard. Hence the name is "beard character".
小生：扮演风流的青年或中年男性角色。
Xiao Sheng is a young or middle-aged male character with casual and elegant
bearing.
武生：扮演武艺高强的青壮年男性角色，分为长靠武生和短打武生。
Wu Sheng martial roles are men's characters versed in military arts. It contains
brandish long handle weapons martial role and hand-to-hand fight martial role.
“旦”是女性正面角色
"Dan" is the positive female role
青衣：也称“正旦”，扮演端庄稳重的中青年女性角色.
Qing Yi is also named Zheng Dan. It is a role of staid young or middle-aged women.
花旦：扮演性格开朗、口齿伶俐、动作洒脱的青春少女角色.
Hua Dan is the young or middle-aged female characters with active action.
花旦：扮演性格开朗、口齿伶俐、动作洒脱的青春少女角色.
Hua Dan is the young or middle-aged female characters with active action.
老旦：扮演老年女性的角色，以唱工、念白、表演为主.
Lao Dan is old female characters stress on singing, but some of them also emphasize
on speaking and posture action.