Combining these two characters, 编剧 (biānjù) paints a vivid picture: someone who “weaves a drama” together from various plot points, character arcs, and lines of dialogue.
In China's rapidly expanding film and television market, the role of the 编剧 (biānjù) has become a hot topic. Historically, the Chinese film industry operated on a “director-centric model” (导演中心制, dǎoyǎn zhōngxīn zhì), where the director held the ultimate creative authority, and the screenwriter's role was often secondary. While directors remain hugely influential, the explosion of long-form television dramas (电视剧, diànshìjù) has elevated the screenwriter's status significantly. A compelling, well-paced story is now seen as the backbone of a successful series, leading to “hit-maker” screenwriters gaining fame and influence. This shift has sparked public discussions about intellectual property rights, fair pay, and creative credit for screenwriters. Unlike the American system, where a “showrunner” (often a head writer with executive producer powers) guides a TV series, the power dynamic in China between the director, producer, and screenwriter is still evolving and can vary greatly from project to project. Fans on social media platforms like Weibo are now just as likely to praise or criticize the `编剧` for a show's plot as they are the actors or director.
`编剧` is primarily used as a noun referring to the profession. You use it just like you would use “screenwriter” or “doctor” in English.
A frequent point of confusion for learners is distinguishing `编剧` from other words for “writer.”