====== zhíbō: 直播 - Live Broadcast, Live Stream ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 直播, zhibo, Chinese live stream, what does zhibo mean, live streaming in China, Taobao live, Douyin live, Chinese e-commerce, live broadcast, 主播, zhubo, Chinese influencer
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **直播 (zhíbō)**, the Chinese term for 'live stream' that's more than just a broadcast—it's a cultural and economic phenomenon. Learn how live streaming in China has revolutionized e-commerce, entertainment, and social interaction, from massive Taobao sales events to daily life on Douyin (TikTok). This guide breaks down the characters, cultural significance, and practical use of **直播**, a must-know word for understanding modern China.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zhíbō
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To broadcast live; a live broadcast or internet live stream.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **直播 (zhíbō)** literally means "direct broadcast." While it can refer to traditional TV or radio, in modern China, it overwhelmingly means internet live streaming. It's an interactive, real-time event where viewers can comment, ask questions, and even buy products directly from the host. Think of it as the supercharged convergence of QVC, Twitch, and Instagram Live, forming a core pillar of modern Chinese digital life and commerce.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **直 (zhí):** This character's core meaning is "straight," "direct," or "upright." Imagine a straight line—no curves, no delays, no detours. It implies immediacy and a direct connection.
  * **播 (bō):** This character means "to broadcast," "to spread," or "to sow seeds." It depicts the action of scattering or transmitting something over a wide area, like a radio tower sending out signals or a farmer sowing seeds in a field.
  * When combined, **直播 (zhíbō)** creates a vivid picture: "direct broadcasting." It's the act of transmitting information or events directly and instantly as they happen, without editing or delay, straight to the audience.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
**直播 (zhíbō)** is one of the most important terms for understanding contemporary Chinese culture and its digital economy. Its significance goes far beyond its simple translation.
While the West has platforms like Twitch for gaming and Instagram for social live streams, China's **直播** ecosystem is on a different scale, particularly in its fusion with commerce. The concept of **直播带货 (zhíbō dài huò)**—"selling goods via live stream"—has transformed retail. Influencers, known as **主播 (zhǔbō)**, can sell millions of dollars worth of products in a single session on platforms like Taobao, Douyin, and Kuaishou.
This creates a unique cultural dynamic. The relationship between a **主播 (zhǔbō)** and their audience is highly interactive and personal. Viewers don't just watch; they participate through real-time "bullet comments" (**弹幕, dànmù**) that fly across the screen, ask questions about products, and send virtual gifts (**打赏, dǎshǎng**) to show support. This blurs the line between entertainment, social connection, and shopping, creating a powerful form of community-driven commerce that is far more integrated into daily life than in the West. It represents a shift from passive consumption to active, community-based participation.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**直播 (zhíbō)** is used constantly in everyday conversation, on social media, and in business.
==== As a Noun ("a live stream") ====
You use it to refer to the event itself.
`* 你看昨晚的**直播**了吗？ (Nǐ kàn zuówǎn de zhíbō le ma?) - Did you watch last night's live stream?`
`* 这个**直播**太有意思了！ (Zhège zhíbō tài yǒuyìsi le!) - This live stream is so interesting!`
==== As a Verb ("to live stream") ====
You use it to describe the action of broadcasting live.
`* 我今晚八点要**直播**。 (Wǒ jīnwǎn bā diǎn yào zhíbō.) - I'm going to live stream at 8 PM tonight.`
`* 他靠**直播**打游戏赚钱。 (Tā kào zhíbō dǎ yóuxì zhuànqián.) - He makes money by live streaming himself playing games.`
The term is generally neutral but often carries a positive, modern connotation associated with technology, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 很多年轻人喜欢看游戏**直播**。
    * Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xǐhuān kàn yóuxì **zhíbō**.
    * English: Many young people like to watch video game live streams.
    * Analysis: A simple, common use of **直播** as a noun, specifically in the context of gaming, a huge sector of the live streaming industry.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 这位**主播**今晚要**直播**卖口红。
    * Pinyin: Zhè wèi **zhǔbō** jīnwǎn yào **zhíbō** mài kǒuhóng.
    * English: This streamer is going to sell lipstick on her live stream tonight.
    * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the e-commerce context. It uses both **主播 (zhǔbō)**, the streamer, and **直播 (zhíbō)** as a verb.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 你关注的那个网红开始**直播**了，快去看！
    * Pinyin: Nǐ guānzhù de nàge wǎnghóng kāishǐ **zhíbō** le, kuài qù kàn!
    * English: That internet celebrity you follow has started her live stream, go watch it now!
    * Analysis: This shows the immediacy and social nature of **直播**. The phrase `快去看 (kuài qù kàn)` captures the "don't miss out" feeling.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 我在李佳琦的**直播**间里买了很多东西。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zài Lǐ Jiāqí de **zhíbō**jiān li mǎi le hěn duō dōngxi.
    * English: I bought a lot of things in Li Jiaqi's live stream room.
    * Analysis: Mentions a real, famous streamer (Li Jiaqi, the "Lipstick King") and introduces the related term **直播间 (zhíbōjiān)**, the virtual "room" where the stream happens.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 新闻发布会正在全球同步**直播**。
    * Pinyin: Xīnwén fābùhuì zhèngzài quánqiú tóngbù **zhíbō**.
    * English: The press conference is being broadcast live globally.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates a more formal usage of **直播**, similar to the English "live broadcast," for official events.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 昨天的**直播**信号不太好，总是卡。
    * Pinyin: Zuótiān de **zhíbō** xìnhào bù tài hǎo, zǒngshì kǎ.
    * English: The signal for yesterday's live stream wasn't very good; it kept freezing.
    * Analysis: A practical sentence discussing the technical quality of a stream. `卡 (kǎ)` is slang for "to lag" or "to freeze."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他每天花太多时间看**直播**，都影响学习了。
    * Pinyin: Tā měi tiān huā tài duō shíjiān kàn **zhíbō**, dōu yǐngxiǎng xuéxí le.
    * English: He spends too much time watching live streams every day, it's affecting his studies.
    * Analysis: Shows a potential negative connotation, highlighting the addictive nature of live stream entertainment.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 你可以在任何**直播**平台免费注册账号。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ zài rènhé **zhíbō** píngtái miǎnfèi zhùcè zhànghào.
    * English: You can register for an account for free on any live streaming platform.
    * Analysis: Introduces the useful compound noun **直播平台 (zhíbō píngtái)**, meaning "live streaming platform."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 观众可以通过发**弹幕**和**主播**互动。
    * Pinyin: Guānzhòng kěyǐ tōngguò fā **dànmù** hé **zhǔbō** hùdòng.
    * English: The audience can interact with the streamer by sending "bullet comments."
    * Analysis: This sentence explains the core interactive mechanism of Chinese live streams, linking **直播** to the concepts of **弹幕 (dànmù)** and **主播 (zhǔbō)**.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这次**直播**的目的是为慈善机构筹款。
    * Pinyin: Zhè cì **zhíbō** de mùdì shì wèi císhàn jīgòu chóukuǎn.
    * English: The purpose of this live stream is to raise funds for a charity organization.
    * Analysis: Shows that **直播** is a versatile tool that can be used for social good, not just for commerce or entertainment.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **直播 (zhíbō) vs. 视频 (shìpín):** This is the most critical distinction for a learner.
    * **直播 (zhíbō)** is **LIVE** and happening in real-time.
    * **视频 (shìpín)** is a pre-recorded **VIDEO**.
    * **Incorrect:** `我昨晚看了一个他的新**直播**。` (I watched a new live stream of his last night.) -> This is awkward. If it was pre-recorded and you're watching it after the fact, you'd call it a replay `(回放, huífàng)` or just say you watched the content. If it's a new, edited video, it's a `视频`.
    * **Correct:** `我昨晚看了他的**直播**。` (I watched his live stream last night.)
    * **Correct:** `我看了他昨天上传的新**视频**。` (I watched the new video he uploaded yesterday.)
  * **"Broadcast" vs. 直播:** While "broadcast" is a valid translation, in modern English it often evokes images of traditional TV or radio networks (like the BBC or NBC). In contrast, **直播 (zhíbō)** in modern Chinese almost always refers to **internet-based live streaming**. Using "broadcast" can sometimes miss the specific digital, interactive, and commerce-driven context of **直播**.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[主播]] (zhǔbō) - The host, anchor, or streamer. The person at the center of the **直播**.
  * [[直播带货]] (zhíbō dài huò) - "Live stream to sell goods." The massive e-commerce phenomenon built on **直播**.
  * [[网红]] (wǎnghóng) - "Internet celebrity" or influencer. Most **主播** are or aspire to be **网红**.
  * [[弹幕]] (dànmù) - "Bullet comments." The real-time comments that fly across the screen, a key feature of interactive streaming.
  * [[打赏]] (dǎshǎng) - To give a virtual gift or tip to a streamer as a sign of appreciation.
  * [[粉丝]] (fěnsī) - Fans (a phonetic loanword from English). The audience of a **直播**.
  * [[视频]] (shìpín) - Video. The opposite of **直播** in that it is pre-recorded.
  * [[平台]] (píngtái) - Platform. Often used in **直播平台** (live streaming platform) like Douyin or Taobao.
  * [[抖音]] (Dǒuyīn) - The Chinese version of TikTok, a primary platform for entertainment and e-commerce **直播**.
  * [[淘宝]] (Táobǎo) - China's largest e-commerce site, which pioneered **直播带货** through its Taobao Live feature.