How to Talk About Movies in Chinese?

How to talk about movies in Chinese? When a new movie comes out, how to say you like it or not? In today's article, you will learn all the useful Chinese expressions!

First let's start with some basic movie-related words.

MOVIE WORDS IN CHINESE

• Movie/film: 电影 diànyǐng

• A movie: 一部电影 yíbù diànyǐng

• Actor: 男演员 nányǎnyuán

• Actress: 女演员 nǚyǎnyuán

• Preference: 喜好 xǐhào

• Taste: 品味 pǐnwèi

MOVIE GENRE IN CHINESE

We all have different preferences for movies.

Personally, thrillers (惊悚片 jīngsǒngpiàn) and actions (动作片 dòngzuòpiàn) are my favorite. But I also watch other genres depending on my mood of the day.

Which genre is your favorite: comedy, documentary, or ...?

You can find the word 片 (piàn) is commonly used to express film genres in Chinese. For example, 动画 (dònghuà) + 片 (piàn) is Cartoon movie.

• Action movie: 动作片 dòngzuòpiàn

• Drama: 剧情片 jùqíngpiàn

• Science fiction movie: 科幻片 kēhuànpiàn

• Romance movie: 爱情片 àiqíngpiàn

• Horror movie: 恐怖片 kǒngbùpiàn

• Thrillers: 惊悚片 jīngsǒngpiàn

• Cartoon movie: 动画片 dònghuàpiàn

• Comedy: 喜剧片   xǐjùpiàn

• Documentary: 纪录片 jìlùpiàn

Examples:

• My favorite documentary is “A Bite of China”. It introduces China’s food culture.

      我最喜欢的纪录片是《舌尖上的中国》。这部纪录片介绍了中国各地的饮食文化。

      Wǒ zuì xǐhuan de jìlùpiàn shì Shéjiān Shàng de Zhōngguó. Zhè bù jìlùpiàn jièshào zhōngguó gèdì de yǐnshí wénhuà.

If you want to ask a Chinese friend about his/her favorite movie, you can ask:

• What's your favorite movie?

      你最喜欢哪部电影？

      Nǐ zuì xǐ huān nǎ bù diàn yǐng？

WHERE DO YOU USUALLY WATCH MOVIES?

I mean, you can't watch all the movies at cinema, some might be too old, some might be restricted, or you simply do not have time. And sci-fi at home? What a waste of time...

• Watch at home: 在家看 zài jiā kàn

• Cinema/Movie theater: 电影院 diànyǐngyuàn

• 3D-cinema: 立体电影院 lìtǐ diànyǐngyuàn

• IMAX-cinema: 巨幕影院 jùmù yǐngyuàn

• Dolby Cinema: 杜比影院 dùbǐ yǐngyuàn

• Screening room: 放映厅 fàngyìng tīng

• Automatic ticket machine: 自动取票机 zìdòng qǔ piào jī

WHAT TO EAT DURING MOVIES

If you choose to go to cinema for a three-hour-long movie, you might need to get some snacks. Most cinemas wouldn't allow you to bring your own food or beverage, get some food and drinks using these Chinese words!

• Popcorn: 爆米花 bàomǐhuā

• Nachos: 玉米片 yùmǐpiàn

• Ice cream: 冰淇淋 bīngqílín

• Chocolate: 巧克力 qiǎokelì

• Coke: 可乐 kělè

• Diet Coke: 健怡可乐 jiànyí kělè

• Coke Zero: 零度可乐 língdù kělè

• Ice: 冰 bīng

• No ice: 去冰 qù bīng

HOW TO TALK AFTER MOVIES

What's the point of watching a movie with friends without some in-depth discussions afterwards? Do you know how to describe the movies you watched? Learn these words and impress your friends!

• Ordinary: 一般 yìbān

• Good (to watch): 好看 hǎokàn

• Terrible: 烂透了 làntòule

• Movies that suck: 烂片 lànpiàn

• Touching: 感人 gǎnrén

• Boring: 无聊 wúliáo

• Cultured: 有文化 yǒu wénhuà

• Killing time 打发时间 dǎfa shíjiān

Examples:

• How was the movie?

      这部电影怎么样?

      Zhè bù diànyǐng zěnmeyàng？

• I like the movie.

     我喜欢这部电影。

     Wǒ xǐhuan zhè bù diànyǐng

• I think it’s just ok.

     我觉得还可以吧。

     Wǒ juéde hái kěyǐ ba

• It’s so boring.

     这部电影太无聊了。

     Zhè bù diànyǐng tài wúliáo le

• Just killing time.

     只是为了打发时间。

     Zhīshì wéile dǎfa shíjiān

Can you think of more movie-related words? What's your favorite movie?

Leave your ideas in the comments!

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