yǎnxí: 演习 - Exercise, Drill, Maneuver, Rehearsal

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Summary: Discover the meaning of 演习 (yǎnxí), a key Chinese term for a large-scale 'exercise,' 'drill,' or 'maneuver.' This page breaks down its use in critical situations, from military exercises and emergency fire drills to full-dress rehearsals for major events. Understand the cultural importance of preparedness in China and learn the crucial difference between 演习 (yǎnxí) and 练习 (liànxí) to use the word correctly.

Pinyin (with tone marks): yǎnxí

Part of Speech: Noun, Verb

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: A planned, practical exercise or drill, often on a large scale, to practice procedures or test readiness.

In a Nutshell: Think of 演习 (yǎnxí) not as practicing a single skill, but as a full “dress rehearsal” for a real-world event. It’s a simulation. Whether it's a military simulating a battle, a school practicing a fire evacuation, or a team running through an emergency response plan, 演习 (yǎnxí) is about testing the entire system and everyone's coordination within it.

演 (yǎn): This character means to perform, to act, or to demonstrate. You can see it in words like 表演 (biǎoyǎn), meaning “a performance.” The water radical (氵) on the left hints at something flowing or spreading out, like a performance unfolding for an audience.

习 (xí): This character means to practice or to become accustomed to. It's famously part of 学习 (xuéxí), “to study.” The character depicts a bird (羽) practicing its flight.

Combined Meaning: The characters “perform” (演) and “practice” (习) join to create 演习 (yǎnxí), a “performed practice.” This perfectly captures the idea of acting out a real scenario for the purpose of practice and preparation.

Preparedness and Order: The term 演习 (yǎnxí) taps into a deep cultural appreciation for order, preparedness, and collective action. In China, large-scale, highly coordinated drills for everything from earthquakes to national events are common and taken very seriously. An 演习 is a demonstration of a system's capability and a way to ensure everyone knows their role, reinforcing social harmony and stability in the face of a potential crisis.

Comparison with “Drill” in the West: In American or Western culture, a “drill” (like a fire drill) can sometimes be seen as a tedious, routine task to be checked off a list. In China, an 演习 (yǎnxí), especially a large public one, is often viewed with greater seriousness and as a matter of collective responsibility. It's less about individual compliance and more about the smooth, successful functioning of the entire group, whether that's a company, a city, or the nation. It reflects a mindset where the coordinated whole is more important than its individual parts.

Large-Scale Rehearsals: While the word 排练 (páiliàn) is more common for artistic performances like a play, 演习 (yǎnxí) can be used for the full-dress rehearsal of a massive, logistically complex event, like an Olympic opening ceremony. It emphasizes testing the operations and flow, not just the artistic performance.

Connotation and Formality: 演习 (yǎnxí) is a neutral to formal term. It implies a serious, organized, and important activity. You would not use it for casual practice.

练习 (liànxí): To practice; exercise (for a skill). The most important term to distinguish from 演习. 练习 is for skills, 演习 is for procedures.

训练 (xùnliàn): Training; to train. Refers to a more systematic and rigorous process of developing skills or abilities, often under a coach or instructor. An 演习 can be considered a test of one's 训练.

排练 (páiliàn): Rehearsal. This is the more common word for rehearsing an artistic performance like a play, a dance, or a concert. It's a close synonym in that context, but 演习 is for larger, more operational events.

操练 (cāoliàn): To drill; to practice. Often has a strong physical or military connotation, like drilling soldiers on a parade ground. It focuses more on the repetitive physical actions.

模拟 (mónǐ): To simulate; simulation. An 演习 is a type of 模拟. This word refers to the general concept of imitation or simulation, used in computers, science, and training.

军事 (jūnshì): Military affairs. Very frequently paired with 演习 to form 军事演习.

消防 (xiāofáng): Firefighting; fire prevention. Another common pairing: 消防演习 (fire drill).

备战 (bèizhàn): To prepare for war; war-preparedness. Military 演习 is a key part of 备战.