zhìpiànrén: 制片人 - Producer (Film/TV)

• Keywords: zhipianren, zhìpiànrén, 制片人, Chinese film producer, TV producer in Chinese, how to say producer in Chinese, Chinese film industry roles, 导演 vs 制片人, dǎoyǎn, entertainment industry China
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 制片人 (zhìpiànrén), the essential Chinese term for a film or TV producer. This comprehensive guide explores the producer's powerful role in China's media landscape, breaks down the characters, and provides practical example sentences. Understand the crucial difference between a producer (制片人) and a director (导演) to master conversations about the Chinese entertainment industry.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhì piàn rén
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A person who produces a film or television show.
• In a Nutshell: A 制片人 is the boss of a film or TV project. They are the organizational and financial powerhouse who makes a creative idea into a reality. They find the money, hire the director and actors, manage the budget, and navigate all the logistical and legal hurdles. In China, their power and influence often exceed that of the director.

• 制 (zhì): To make, create, or manufacture. Think of making something systematically, like a product. It implies control and a process.
• 片 (piàn): A slice, or a flat piece. In this context, it's a shorthand for film-related words like 影片 (yǐngpiàn - film) or 电视片 (diànshìpiàn - television film). It refers to the “film” itself.
• 人 (rén): A person.

The characters combine literally and logically to mean “the person who makes the film” — the producer.

In the West, the director is often seen as the primary author and ultimate authority of a film. In China, the 制片人 (zhìpiànrén) often holds the real power. This distinction is crucial for understanding the Chinese entertainment industry. The 制片人 is the chief manager and is ultimately responsible for the project's commercial success and, critically, its political and regulatory approval. They are the ones who must build strong 关系 (guānxi) with investors, government officials, and distributors. A key part of their job is ensuring the film passes the rigorous review process of the National Radio and Television Administration (国家广播电视总局). While a Hollywood producer is also a powerful figure, their Chinese counterpart operates in a system where navigating bureaucracy and personal networks can be just as important as securing funding or talent. The 制片人 is the true “master of the ship,” with the director (导演 - dǎoyǎn) often being the “captain” in charge of the creative voyage, but under the producer's command.

The term 制片人 is used formally and informally in any conversation about the film or television industry. You'll see it constantly in news reports on websites like Sina Entertainment (新浪娱乐), on talk shows, and in credits at the end of a movie or TV series. The connotation is generally neutral to positive, implying a person with significant business acumen, connections, and power within the 娱乐圈 (yúlèquān) - entertainment circle. It is a respected and high-stakes profession.

• Example 1:
• 他是这部电影的制片人。
• Pinyin: Tā shì zhè bù diànyǐng de zhìpiànrén.
• English: He is the producer of this movie.
• Analysis: A simple, direct sentence identifying someone's role. `这部 (zhè bù)` uses the measure word `部 (bù)` for films.
• Example 2:
• 一位优秀的制片人需要懂得如何管理预算。
• Pinyin: Yí wèi yōuxiù de zhìpiànrén xūyào dǒngde rúhé guǎnlǐ yùsuàn.
• English: An excellent producer needs to know how to manage a budget.
• Analysis: This sentence describes a key skill of a producer. `一位 (yí wèi)` is a polite measure word for people.
• Example 3:
• 在中国，制片人的权力有时比导演还大。
• Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, zhìpiànrén de quánlì yǒushí bǐ dǎoyǎn hái dà.
• English: In China, the producer's power is sometimes even greater than the director's.
• Analysis: This highlights the cultural point discussed earlier. The `比 (bǐ)` structure is used for comparison.
• Example 4:
• 那个年轻的制片人成功地为她的新项目拉到了投资。
• Pinyin: Nàge niánqīng de zhìpiànrén chénggōng de wèi tā de xīn xiàngmù lā dào le tóuzī.
• English: That young producer successfully secured investment for her new project.
• Analysis: `拉到投资 (lā dào tóuzī)` is a common colloquial way to say “to get/secure investment.”
• Example 5:
• 成为一名成功的制片人是我的梦想。
• Pinyin: Chéngwéi yī míng chénggōng de zhìpiànrén shì wǒ de mèngxiǎng.
• English: To become a successful producer is my dream.
• Analysis: A good sentence for expressing personal ambition. `成为 (chéngwéi)` means “to become.”
• Example 6:
• 制片人和导演在选角问题上发生了分歧。
• Pinyin: Zhìpiànrén hé dǎoyǎn zài xuǎnjiǎo wèntí shàng fāshēng le fēnqí.
• English: The producer and the director had a disagreement on the issue of casting.
• Analysis: `选角 (xuǎnjiǎo)` means “casting” (choosing actors). `发生分歧 (fāshēng fēnqí)` means “to have a disagreement.”
• Example 7:
• 这部电视剧的制片人决定更换男主角。
• Pinyin: Zhè bù diànshìjù de zhìpiànrén juédìng gēnghuàn nán zhǔjué.
• English: The producer of this TV series decided to replace the male lead actor.
• Analysis: `电视剧 (diànshìjù)` is “TV series” and `男主角 (nán zhǔjué)` is “male lead actor.” This shows the producer's decision-making power.
• Example 8:
• 作为制片人，你必须处理好各方面的关系。
• Pinyin: Zuòwéi zhìpiànrén, nǐ bìxū chǔlǐ hǎo gè fāngmiàn de guānxì.
• English: As a producer, you must handle relationships with all parties well.
• Analysis: `作为 (zuòwéi)` means “as…” or “in the capacity of…”. This sentence directly references the importance of 关系 (guānxi).
• Example 9:
• 电影的片尾字幕列出了所有制片人的名字。
• Pinyin: Diànyǐng de piànwěi zìmù lièchū le suǒyǒu zhìpiànrén de míngzi.
• English: The movie's end credits list the names of all the producers.
• Analysis: `片尾字幕 (piànwěi zìmù)` is the specific term for “end credits.”
• Example 10:
• 如果没有制片人的努力，这个项目根本不可能启动。
• Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu zhìpiànrén de nǔlì, zhège xiàngmù gēnběn bù kěnéng qǐdòng.
• English: Without the producer's hard work, this project would have been impossible to start.
• Analysis: This sentence uses a hypothetical structure `如果…没有… (rúguǒ…méiyǒu…)` to emphasize the producer's importance. `根本不 (gēnběn bù)` means “absolutely not” or “not at all.”

• 制片人 (zhìpiànrén) vs. 导演 (dǎoyǎn): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 制片人 (zhìpiànrén): The Producer. Manages the business, budget, logistics, and personnel. The “boss.”
  • 导演 (dǎoyǎn): The Director. Manages the creative vision, directs actors, and controls the artistic aspects of filming.
  • Incorrect: “The director is the most powerful person on a Chinese film set.”
  • Correction: While the director has creative authority, the 制片人 often has the final say on budget, casting, and even the final cut, making them arguably more powerful overall.
• 制片人 (zhìpiànrén) vs. 出品人 (chūpǐnrén): This is a more advanced distinction.
  • 出品人 (chūpǐnrén): Executive Producer or Presenter. This is often the primary investor or the head of the company funding the film. They are the ultimate financial backer.
  • A 制片人 is the hands-on manager of the production and reports to the 出品人.
• Not for Music: Do not use 制片人 for a music producer. A music producer is a 音乐制作人 (yīnyuè zhìzuòrén). 制片人 is exclusively for film and television.

• 导演 (dǎoyǎn) - Director. The creative leader on set; often works for the 制片人.
• 演员 (yǎnyuán) - Actor/Actress. Hired by the director and producer.
• 编剧 (biānjù) - Screenwriter. The person who writes the script, which is the foundation of the project.
• 电影 (diànyǐng) - Movie/Film. The final product created by the producer and their team.
• 电视剧 (diànshìjù) - TV Series/Drama. The other primary type of project a 制片人 manages.
• 出品人 (chūpǐnrén) - Executive Producer/Financier. The person or entity providing the main investment; the producer's boss.
• 娱乐圈 (yúlèquān) - “Entertainment Circle”; Showbiz. The industry in which a 制片人 operates.
• 关系 (guānxi) - Connections/Network. An essential “tool” for any successful 制片人 in China.
• 投资 (tóuzī) - Investment. What a 制片人 needs to secure to fund a project.