Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== wǎngjù: 网剧 - Web Series, Web Drama ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** wǎngjù, 网剧, Chinese web series, Chinese web drama, what is wangju, C-drama, online series, iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku, Chinese streaming * **Summary:** Discover the world of **网剧 (wǎngjù)**, the wildly popular **Chinese web series** or **web dramas** that have transformed modern entertainment in China. These **online series**, often produced by streaming giants like iQIYI, Tencent Video, and Youku, range from high-budget historical epics to quirky modern romances. This page explains **what wangju is**, its cultural impact, and how it differs from traditional television, providing a gateway to understanding a huge part of contemporary Chinese pop culture and a fantastic resource for language learners. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wǎngjù * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** N/A (but highly common) * **Concise Definition:** A television-style series produced for and released primarily on the internet. * **In a Nutshell:** **网剧 (wǎngjù)** is a literal combination of 'internet' (网) and 'drama' (剧). Think of it like a "Netflix Original" or "Hulu series," but specifically for Chinese streaming platforms. These shows are a massive deal in China, often featuring big stars, huge budgets, and creative storylines that might be too edgy or niche for traditional broadcast television. For many young Chinese people, watching 网剧 is the primary way they consume long-form entertainment. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **网 (wǎng):** This character is a pictograph of a net. It means "net" or "network." In modern Chinese, it's the standard character used to refer to the internet (网络 - wǎngluò). * **剧 (jù):** A more complex character originally depicting a fierce struggle. Today, its most common meaning is "drama," "play," or "theatrical performance." It's the same character used in "television drama" (电视剧 - diànshìjù). * Together, **网 (wǎng) + 剧 (jù)** literally means "internet drama," a perfectly descriptive name for the concept. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== **网剧 (wǎngjù)** represents a major shift in China's media landscape over the last decade. While they started as low-budget, amateur productions, they are now the dominant force in Chinese entertainment, often eclipsing traditional television in terms of budget, star power, and cultural buzz. The closest Western equivalent is a "streaming original" (like a show from Netflix, Amazon Prime, or HBO Max). However, the cultural impact of **网剧** in China is arguably more profound. Because online content historically faced less stringent censorship than state-run broadcast television, **网剧** became a space for more creative freedom and diverse storytelling. This allowed for genres like supernatural thrillers, time-travel stories, and "Boy's Love" (BL) adaptations (called 耽改 - dāngǎi) to flourish, capturing the attention of younger audiences. These shows are not just entertainment; they are cultural phenomena. A hit **网剧** can create nationwide trends, make its actors into A-list celebrities overnight, and generate weeks of non-stop discussion on social media platforms like Weibo. For any learner of Chinese, understanding what **网剧** are and which ones are popular is a key to understanding modern Chinese youth culture. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **网剧** is a neutral, everyday term used in all informal and most semi-formal contexts when discussing entertainment. * **In Conversation:** Friends, family, and colleagues constantly discuss **网剧**. Asking "最近在看什么网剧?" (What web series are you watching lately?) is a common conversation starter. * **On Social Media:** Social media platform Weibo is the epicenter of **网剧** discussion. Hashtags related to specific shows, characters, or plot twists can trend for weeks, accumulating billions of views. * **Consumer Culture:** Popular **网剧** drive immense consumer activity, from merchandise and brand endorsements for the actors to tourism to filming locations. The term itself is neutral, but the specific **网剧** being discussed will carry its own connotations (e.g., high-quality, "trashy," romantic, thrilling). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 最近有什么好看的**网剧**吗？ * Pinyin: Zuìjìn yǒu shéme hǎokàn de **wǎngjù** ma? * English: Are there any good web series to watch recently? * Analysis: A very common and natural way to ask for recommendations. * **Example 2:** * 我周末一口气看完了一整部**网剧**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zhōumò yīkǒuqì kànwán le yī zhěng bù **wǎngjù**. * English: I binge-watched a whole web series in one go over the weekend. * Analysis: The phrase `一口气 (yīkǒuqì)`, literally "in one breath," is the perfect native equivalent of "binge-watching" or doing something "all in one sitting." * **Example 3:** * 他是靠演**网剧**出名的。 * Pinyin: Tā shì kào yǎn **wǎngjù** chūmíng de. * English: He became famous by acting in web series. * Analysis: Highlights how **网剧** have become a primary vehicle for stardom in China. * **Example 4:** * 现在的**网剧**比一些电视剧的质量还高。 * Pinyin: Xiànzài de **wǎngjù** bǐ yīxiē diànshìjù de zhìliàng hái gāo. * English: The quality of today's web series is even higher than some traditional TV dramas. * Analysis: This sentence reflects the modern reality where web series are no longer considered "lesser" than their broadcast counterparts. * **Example 5:** * 这部**网剧**的制作成本非常高。 * Pinyin: Zhè bù **wǎngjù** de zhìzuò chéngběn fēicháng gāo. * English: The production cost of this web series is very high. * Analysis: `制作成本 (zhìzuò chéngběn)` means "production cost." This counters the misconception that web series are always low-budget. * **Example 6:** * 你在哪个平台追**网剧**？爱奇艺还是腾讯视频？ * Pinyin: Nǐ zài nǎge píngtái zhuī **wǎngjù**? Àiqíyì háishì Téngxùn Shìpín? * English: Which platform do you use to follow web series? iQIYI or Tencent Video? * Analysis: Introduces the concept of `追剧 (zhuī jù)` (to chase/follow a drama) and names two of the "big three" streaming platforms. * **Example 7:** * 我只喜欢看古装**网剧**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐ xǐhuān kàn gǔzhuāng **wǎngjù**. * English: I only like to watch historical costume web series. * Analysis: `古装 (gǔzhuāng)` refers to the extremely popular genre of historical/costume dramas. * **Example 8:** * 那部**网剧**的剧情太狗血了，我看不下去了。 * Pinyin: Nà bù **wǎngjù** de jùqíng tài gǒuxuè le, wǒ kàn bu xiàqù le. * English: The plot of that web series is too melodramatic, I can't watch it anymore. * Analysis: Introduces the essential slang term `狗血 (gǒuxuè)` (dog's blood), which means overly dramatic, cliché, or ridiculous. * **Example 9:** * 听说那本很火的小说要被改编成**网剧**了。 * Pinyin: Tīngshuō nà běn hěn huǒ de xiǎoshuō yào bèi gǎibiān chéng **wǎngjù** le. * English: I heard that very popular novel is going to be adapted into a web series. * Analysis: `改编 (gǎibiān)` means "to adapt." Many popular **网剧** are adapted from successful web novels. * **Example 10:** * 这部**网剧**的弹幕比剧本身还有意思。 * Pinyin: Zhè bù **wǎngjù** de dànmù bǐ jù běnshēn hái yǒu yìsi. * English: The "bullet comments" for this web series are even more interesting than the show itself. * Analysis: Introduces the crucial concept of `弹幕 (dànmù)`, the real-time comments that fly across the screen, which is an integral part of the viewing experience in China. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **网剧 (wǎngjù) vs. 电视剧 (diànshìjù):** This is the most important distinction. * **网剧 (wǎngjù):** A web series. Its primary and intended first-run platform is the internet (e.g., iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku). * **电视剧 (diànshìjù):** A traditional television drama. Its primary first-run platform is a broadcast TV channel (e.g., CCTV, Hunan TV). * **Common Mistake:** Assuming the terms are interchangeable. While the lines are blurring (many **电视剧** are streamed online simultaneously, and some hit **网剧** get a later run on TV), the distinction is based on the **original production and distribution plan**. Calling a show made for broadcast TV a **网剧** is incorrect. * **Don't Assume "Low-Budget":** A common mistake for Westerners is to hear "web series" and think of low-budget, amateur YouTube shows from the 2000s. In modern China, **网剧** are often the most lavish, expensive, and high-profile productions in the entire entertainment industry. They are the equivalent of a "prestige drama" from a major US streaming service. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[电视剧]] (diànshìjù) - Television drama. The traditional counterpart to a **网剧**. * [[网络大电影]] (wǎngluò dà diànyǐng) - "Internet big movie" (web film). A feature-length film produced for direct-to-streaming release. * [[追剧]] (zhuī jù) - To "chase a drama." The common verb for following a series as it is released or binge-watching it. * [[弹幕]] (dànmù) - "Bullet curtain/comments." The signature real-time, on-screen comments that are a core part of the Chinese online viewing experience. * [[爱奇艺]] (àiqíyì) - iQIYI, a major Chinese streaming platform, often called the "Netflix of China." * [[腾讯视频]] (téngxùn shìpín) - Tencent Video, another one of the top-tier streaming platforms. * [[优酷]] (yōukù) - Youku, the third major player in China's streaming market. * [[综艺]] (zōngyì) - Variety show. Another extremely popular category of programming on these streaming platforms. * [[狗血]] (gǒuxuè) - Lit. "dog's blood." A popular slang term for plots that are excessively melodramatic, clichéd, or nonsensical. * [[古装剧]] (gǔzhuāngjù) - Costume drama/historical drama. An incredibly popular genre for both **网剧** and 电视剧.