zhuī jù: 追剧 - Binge-watching, Following a TV Series

• Keywords: zhuī jù, 追剧, binge-watch Chinese dramas, follow a TV series in Chinese, watching Chinese shows, C-drama, what does zhui ju mean, Chinese slang for watching TV, Chinese streaming, iQiyi, Tencent Video, Youku
• Summary: Learn the popular Chinese term 追剧 (zhuī jù), which means to “binge-watch” or “follow a TV series.” This guide explains its meaning, cultural significance in the age of streaming, and how to use it in everyday conversation. Whether you're hooked on a C-drama or just want to talk about your favorite shows, understanding 追剧 (zhuī jù) is essential for any modern Chinese learner.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhuī jù
• Part of Speech: Verb-object Phrase (often functions as a single verb)
• HSK Level: N/A (but extremely common in modern spoken Chinese)
• Concise Definition: To avidly follow or binge-watch a television series.
• In a Nutshell: `追剧` is the action of passionately keeping up with a TV show. It literally translates to “chasing a drama.” This perfectly captures the feeling of either watching episode after episode in one sitting (binge-watching) or eagerly awaiting the release of the next episode each week. It’s the go-to term for talking about being hooked on a show.

• 追 (zhuī): To chase, pursue, or follow. Imagine chasing after a bus you don't want to miss—it conveys a sense of urgency and active pursuit.
• 剧 (jù): Drama, play, or show. This character refers to any kind of theatrical or televised series.
• Together, `追剧 (zhuī jù)` creates a vivid image: you are actively “chasing” the plot and characters of a show, unable to stop. It's not just passive watching; it's an enthusiastic pursuit.

`追剧` is a cornerstone of modern Chinese pop culture, largely fueled by the explosion of online streaming platforms like 爱奇艺 (iQiyi), 腾讯视频 (Tencent Video), and 优酷 (Youku). These platforms often release entire seasons at once or drop several episodes per week, creating a perfect environment for obsessive watching. While the closest Western concept is “binge-watching,” `追剧` has a slightly broader meaning.

• Binge-watching: This usually implies watching many episodes of a *completed* or *fully-released* season in a short period.
• 追剧 (zhuī jù): This includes binge-watching, but it also describes the act of diligently following a show that is currently airing with a weekly release schedule. The “chasing” aspect is key—you're chasing the story as it unfolds in real-time.

The culture around `追剧` is highly social. Friends, colleagues, and family members will often watch the same popular C-drama (Chinese drama) and discuss plot twists, characters, and theories on social media apps like 微博 (Weibo) and 微信 (WeChat). The viewing experience itself can be social, with many viewers using the 弹幕 (dànmù) feature—a live comment feed that scrolls across the screen—to share reactions with thousands of other fans simultaneously.

`追剧` is an informal, everyday term used frequently in conversation. You'll hear it constantly among young people and anyone who enjoys watching TV shows.

• In Conversation: It's used to ask about someone's hobbies, make plans for the weekend, or explain why you look so tired on a Monday morning.
• On Social Media: Users post about the shows they are currently `追`-ing, often with hashtags related to the show's title. They might complain about a cliffhanger or celebrate a favorite character's triumph.
• Connotation: It's a neutral-to-positive term that expresses enthusiasm. However, it can have a slightly negative connotation if you're implying someone is neglecting their responsibilities to watch shows (e.g., “All he does is 追剧 all day!”).

• Example 1:
  • 最近在追剧吗？
  • Pinyin: Zuìjìn zài zhuī jù ma?
  • English: Are you following any shows recently?
  • Analysis: A perfect conversation starter. `最近 (zuìjìn)` means “recently,” making this a common way to ask someone what they've been up to.
• Example 2:
  • 我昨天晚上追剧追到半夜，今天好困啊。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang zhuī jù zhuī dào bànyè, jīntiān hǎo kùn a.
  • English: I was up following a series until midnight last night, so I'm really sleepy today.
  • Analysis: This shows the consequence of `追剧`. Note the verb is repeated (`追到`) to emphasize the action continued until a certain point (`半夜` - midnight).
• Example 3:
  • 这部剧太好看了，我忍不住要一口气追完。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù jù tài hǎokàn le, wǒ rěnbuzhù yào yīkǒuqì zhuī wán.
  • English: This series is so good, I can't help but binge-watch it all in one go.
  • Analysis: `一口气 (yīkǒuqì)` literally means “in one breath” and is the perfect adverb to describe binge-watching. `追完 (zhuī wán)` means “to finish chasing/watching.”
• Example 4:
  • 别给我剧透！我正在追这部剧呢！
  • Pinyin: Bié gěi wǒ jùtòu! Wǒ zhèngzài zhuī zhè bù jù ne!
  • English: Don't give me any spoilers! I'm in the middle of following this show!
  • Analysis: `剧透 (jùtòu)` means “spoiler.” This is a classic phrase for anyone deep into a series. Notice how `追` can be used as the standalone verb.
• Example 5:
  • 我整个周末都在家追剧，哪儿也没去。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhěnggè zhōumò dōu zàijiā zhuī jù, nǎr yě méi qù.
  • English: I spent the whole weekend at home binge-watching shows, I didn't go anywhere.
  • Analysis: A very common and relatable sentence. `整个 (zhěnggè)` means “the entire,” emphasizing the duration.
• Example 6:
  • 你有什么好剧推荐吗？我最近剧荒了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu shéme hǎo jù tuījiàn ma? Wǒ zuìjìn jù huāng le.
  • English: Do you have any good shows to recommend? I've run out of shows to watch recently.
  • Analysis: This example doesn't use `追剧` directly but is part of the same cultural context. `剧荒 (jù huāng)` means “drama famine”—the dreaded state of having no shows to `追`.
• Example 7:
  • 我们一起追《庆余年》吧！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīqǐ zhuī “Qìng Yúnián” ba!
  • English: Let's follow “Joy of Life” together!
  • Analysis: `追` is often used with a specific show's title. This shows how it can be a social activity.
• Example 8:
  • 她一有空就疯狂追剧。
  • Pinyin: Tā yī yǒu kòng jiù fēngkuáng zhuī jù.
  • English: As soon as she has free time, she binge-watches shows like crazy.
  • Analysis: The adverb `疯狂 (fēngkuáng)` means “crazily” or “insanely,” and it's often used to describe an intense session of `追剧`.
• Example 9:
  • 这部剧每周才更新两集，追得我好辛苦！
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù jù měi zhōu cái gēngxīn liǎng jí, zhuī de wǒ hǎo xīnkǔ!
  • English: This show only updates two episodes a week, it's so hard to keep up!
  • Analysis: This highlights the “following a currently airing show” aspect of `追剧`. The feeling of `辛苦 (xīnkǔ)` (hard/laborious) is a common, slightly dramatic complaint among fans who have to wait.
• Example 10:
  • 为了追剧，他把所有的家务都忘了。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhuī jù, tā bǎ suǒyǒu de jiāwù dōu wàng le.
  • English: In order to binge-watch his show, he forgot about all his chores.
  • Analysis: `为了 (wèile)` means “in order to.” This sentence structure shows the purpose or reason for an action, often highlighting the negative trade-off.

• `追剧 (zhuī jù)` vs. `看电视 (kàn diànshì)`
  • `看电视` means “to watch TV” in a general, passive sense. It's like saying “I'm watching television.” You could be flipping through channels or watching the news.
  • `追剧` is specific and active. It implies you are invested in a particular *series* and are following its storyline episode by episode.
  • Example: You `看电视` on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but you `追剧` when you're hooked on “Game of Thrones.”
• `追剧` is for Series, Not Movies
  • A very common mistake is to use `追` for a single movie. The “chasing” action implies multiple installments or episodes. You watch a movie, you don't “chase” it.
  • Incorrect: `我昨天追了一部电影。` (Wǒ zuótiān zhuī le yí bù diànyǐng.)
  • Correct: `我昨天看了一部电影。` (Wǒ zuótiān kàn le yí bù diànyǐng.)

• 电视剧 (diànshìjù) - TV Series / TV Drama. This is the object of the action `追剧`.
• 网剧 (wǎngjù) - Web Series. A series produced for and released on the internet, which is what most people `追` nowadays.
• 弹幕 (dànmù) - “Bullet Curtain.” The real-time, on-screen comments that scroll across videos on Chinese streaming sites, a huge part of the `追剧` experience.
• 下饭剧 (xiàfànjù) - “Mealtime Drama.” A lighthearted, easy-to-watch show that is perfect for watching while you eat a meal.
• 剧透 (jùtòu) - Spoiler / To spoil a plot. The mortal enemy of anyone seriously `追剧`.
• 弃剧 (qìjù) - To abandon/drop a series. The opposite of continuing to `追剧`, done when a show becomes boring or bad.
• 熬夜 (áoyè) - To stay up late / To pull an all-nighter. A common side effect of `追剧`.
• 更新 (gēngxīn) - To update. Refers to the release of new episodes. Fans are always waiting for the next `更新`.
• 字幕组 (zìmùzǔ) - Subtitle Group. Volunteer groups that translate and subtitle foreign shows, enabling Chinese fans to `追` international series (and vice versa for C-dramas).